Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Gallons for Growth

12:00 amJuly 1-31

Get your 20 oz. Pepsi products at Kum & Go throughout July! $.05 of every 20 oz. bottle sold supports the kids at Hope Academy and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. Also, mark your calendars for July 29 for Gallons for Growth! Fill up your car on July 29 at any NWA Kum & Go […]

Pickleball Tournament

July 23-25

Hosted by: Matrix Racquet & Fitness Club Friday – Sunday, July 23-25, 2021INDOOR TOURNAMENT: Matrix Racquet Club is hosting the NWACS Charity Tournament. This tournament benefits the Northwest Children’s Shelter and is using a round robin format to a single elimination bracket for medals. Support the mission of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter while having […]

Gallons for Growth

July 29

Get your 20 oz. Pepsi products at Kum & Go throughout July! $.05 of every 20 oz. bottle sold supports the kids at Hope Academy and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. Also, mark your calendars for July 29 for Gallons for Growth! Fill up your car on July 29 at any NWA Kum & Go […]

22nd Annual Golf Classic

August 30

For more information, contact Carla Laing at claing@nwacs.org or 479.795.2417 ext 305. To learn more about winning the brand new golf cart, visit https://one.bidpal.net/nwacsgolf2021/welcome

Kickball 4 the Kids

September 24

For more information, contact Carla Laing at claing@nwacs.org or 479.795.2417 ext 305.

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 felt like a family to me – always helping me when I needed it and making me feel at ease. I might be leaving, but a part of me is staying.

Chelle, age 16

I tried a cupcake for the first time.

Kylee, age 6

I learned that love is better than hate.

Tonya, age 17