Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Our Team

Our Team

Leadership Team

Krystal Bequette

Director of Human Resources and Administration

479-795-2417 ext 306

Rick Brazile

Sr. Director of Finance, Interim Executive Director

479-795-2417 ext 307

Administrative Team

John Craig

Maintenance

Trena Ames

Sous-Chef

Ellie Lindgren

Volunteer Services Manager

Lynne Snyder

Accounting Manager

Tammie Segelquist

Reception Coordinator

Will and Waltina Hanna

Individual Volunteer Coordinators

479-795-2417 ext 312

Joseph Gammon

Assistant Chef

Education Team

Adam Sloter

Hope Academy Community Liaison

Anaiya Daniels

Elementary Teacher

Wade Wofford

High School Teacher

Youth Care Team

Weston Snow

Youth Care Specialist

Shannon Lee

Youth Care Specialist

Gaby Ayala

Youth Care Specialist

Maggie Donnell

Youth Care Specialist

Jacquelin Vargas

Youth Care Specialist

Doug Spellman

Shift Supervisor

Chris Jaglin

Youth Care Specialist

Ruth Bruce

Youth Care Specialist

Akeem Coleman

Shift Supervisor

Lawrence Nguyen

Youth Care Specialist

Janet Greer

Youth Care Specialist

Stephanie Hollis

Youth Care Specialist

Ashley Habel

Shift Supervisor

Breanna Harrison

Youth Care Specialist

Grace Anne Odom

Youth Care Specialist

Jen Wilson

Youth Care Specialist

Hunter De La Garza

Youth Care Specialist

Jordan Smith

Youth Care Specialist

Leah Cochran

Youth Care Specialist

Suzie Kieselhorst

Case Manager

Kelsie Richards

Case Manager

Jacara Hemphill

Shift Supervisor

Chanda Humble

Lead Shift Supervisor

Veronica Porto-Juarez

Lead Shift Supervisor

Toby Segelquist

Shift Supervisor

Micah Wood

Shift Supervisor

Madison Brown

Lead Shift Supervisor

Anna Chancellor

Youth Care Specialist

Brittany Whatley

Youth Care Specialist

Cathy Lowry

Youth Care Specialist

Hanna Mathews

Youth Care Specialist

Jackie Redfearn

Youth Care Specialist

Jared Hines

Youth Care Specialist

Jessica Minez

Youth Care Specialist

Jill Young

Youth Care Specialist

Katie Smith

Youth Care Specialist

Katrina Lott

Transporter

Lisa Covert

Youth Care Specialist

Lisa New

Youth Care Specialist

Mary Hickox

Youth Care Specialist

Nakisha Snell

Youth Care Specialist

Sidney Graham

Shift Supervisor

Teresa Bingham

Youth Care Specialist

Karen Heath

Transporter

The Shelter Shop Team

Brandon Bulen

Manager

Riley Overstreet

Assistant Manager

Ashlyn Pettit

Store Associate

Becky Johnson

Store Associate

Abby

Let me tell you Abby’s story. It was one of the worst cases of neglect the police officer had ever seen. The children were covered in grime, clearly malnourished and sleeping on filthy pallets on the floor. The house had no running water and roaches infested the kitchen. There were visible scratches, bruises and burns […]

Read more about AbbyImpact stories

Meet Abby

Let me tell you Abby’s story.

It was one of the worst cases of neglect the police officer had ever seen. The children were covered in grime, clearly malnourished and sleeping on filthy pallets on the floor. The house had no running water and roaches infested the kitchen. There were visible scratches, bruises and burns on the children’s bodies. This wasn’t the first time their caregiver had been arrested.

After the children were removed from the home, they arrived at the doors of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. They were scared, tired and hungry. We welcomed them with open arms. The Shelter team immediately sprang into action by serving the children a hot meal, giving each child a bath, providing them with clean clothing and beginning treatment for rashes, burns and lice. Abby was the oldest child living in the home — a young girl of less than seven years. Confused and extremely angry, she lashed out at the Shelter team because she had never trusted an adult in her life. She didn’t know how to react when we tried to care for her. She had been deprived of the love and affection of a family.

With patience and guidance from the Shelter team, Abby learned how to better handle her anger and frustration. She learned how to use kind words and how to depend on the adults around her to meet her needs. Most importantly, she learned that, for the first time in her life, she had people who truly cared for her.

Now, Abby has discovered the joys of childhood.

She loves stuffed animals. She loves talking about kittens. She loves drawing pictures for her teacher. On a recent visit to Chick-fil-A, she was so excited about eating in a “real” restaurant and even more excited about joining the other children in the play area. In our care, Abby learned how to laugh and have fun. Her laugh is so infectious, it can turn a bad day into a great one!

Abby is just one of the more than 10,000 children in Arkansas who experienced abuse or neglect last year. For the past 5 years, Washington County has ranked #2 and Benton County #3 for substantiated cases of child abuse. Yes, child abuse is very real and, yes, it is happening in OUR community.

The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter serves as the first point of refuge for children from throughout Arkansas who have suffered the trauma of abuse or neglect. Here, they are safe, loved and given the opportunity to just be kids again.

We need your help to combat the effects of abuse and neglect on our kids. Your gift to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter not only provides a warm bed and three meals per day, but also the opportunity for children like Abby to begin the process of healing. Help our children to know that they are loved with your gift.

Please consider a monthly or annual donation in support of the most vulnerable children in our community. Your generosity transforms the lives of thousands of kids in crisis. With your help, we can provide that spark of HOPE that leads to a brighter future for each child who walks through our doors.

Thank you for loving our kids.

Emily Reynolds, Board President

The world’s not perfect, but people are there to help you. The Shelter was a good environment and people wanted the best for me, and it made me want to love myself more. If I had not gone to the Shelter, I don’t think I’d be in school and I would probably still be in a home when I’m the adult when I shouldn’t have to be.

Lauren, age 16

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

Angela, age 14

I like it here.

Jordyn, age 7