Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Archives for March 2019

Judea’s Story

Watch the video to learn how one incredible young lady escaped years of abuse to find hope again thanks to the amazing team at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

Chef Andrew featured in news segment on KNWA

We love Chef Andrew! Thanks to KNWA – Northwest Arkansas News and General Mills for highlighting our own Chef Andrew and his efforts to provide a healthy and sustainable Nutrition program for the children in our care. Providing healthy meals and snacks to our kids (many of whom have faced food insecurity most of their […]

25 years of providing hope

At the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, we like to say we are in the business of providing HOPE. Each and every day over the past 25 years, our team has held on to the ideal that EVERY CHILD deserves to feel safe, secure and loved. Thanks to our donors, partners and volunteers, more than 10,000 […]

Wesley

“I love it here. I don’t want to be anywhere else. This is the best place I’ve ever been.” The sentiment above was recently shared with me by a 14-year-old named Wesley. At first, I was thrilled to hear it. I was so glad that he felt safe and comfortable here at the Shelter. That […]

Read more about WesleyImpact stories

Meet Wesley

“I love it here. I don’t want to be anywhere else. This is the best place I’ve ever been.”

The sentiment above was recently shared with me by a 14-year-old named Wesley. At first, I was thrilled to hear it. I was so glad that he felt safe and comfortable here at the Shelter. That means that we’re doing our job well. That means that we’re fulfilling our mission.

Right?

But then, as what he said began to sink in, it actually made me very sad. Shouldn’t this young man want to be in a home? Shouldn’t he want to be part of a family? So, why, out of all the places he has been, does he want to be here?

His understanding of home and family is so much different than mine. A home, to him, means conflict and struggle.  It means constantly being hyper aware and ready to fight or flee at any moment. It means feeling alone and frightened, but never being able to show fear or weakness. It means growing up way too fast.

At the Shelter, Wesley is surrounded by people who care about him, 24 hours a day. He has a routine and knows what to expect from day to day. He never has to question whether he will have clean clothing or enough to eat. He knows that his education is important and that his teachers will do everything they can to keep him on track. He knows that we want him to have the best future possible.

I wish every child in Arkansas had a loving, supportive home. I wish we could close the doors of the Shelter forever. Unfortunately, there will always be children like Wesley. To him, the Shelter is more of a family than he has ever known. So, we will keep our doors open, and our arms open even wider, for the children who need us.

Rick Brazile,
Sr. Director of Finance
Interim Executive Director

The Shelter is a great place with warm hearts, open minds and lots of care.

Angela, age 14

The staff treated me as if I were their family. They were always there for me and always reminded me of my worth.

Kiyasha, age 15

I went to the on-site school which I liked because it gave me one-on-one time and that’s what I needed to help get my grades up and catch up on all my credits so I can graduate. I would like to thank all of the staff at the Shelter for making me and my son feel safe and taken care of.

Teresa, age 17