Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Gallons for Growth

July 29, 2021

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 location – $.05 of every gallon sold will also be donated to Hope Academy and the Shelter.

Judea

Judea fought her whole life to be free of abuse and neglect. She finally escaped that world and arrived at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter where she immediately began to thrive.

Read more about JudeaImpact stories

Meet Judea

Judea fought her whole life to be free of abuse and neglect. She finally escaped that world and arrived at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter where she immediately began to thrive. For the first time in 17 years, she imagined living a normal life just like every other high school student. This included a wish to go to high school prom.

Casey, her case manager during her stay at the Children’s Shelter, shares:

“My heart is filled with so much joy! I got the privilege to go to prom with one of my kiddos from the shelter. No, it wasn’t a typical prom situation, but when a kiddo finally escapes abuse for the first time in 17 years, we do all we can to make it a perfect night for her. She is strong, resilient, courageous, unique, ambitious and unassuming. She inspires me and she is one of the million reasons I will never stop fighting for these kids. Prom night was a sweet reminder that no matter how many hard days we have to face, these special moments make every single hard day completely worth it. If these kiddos can endure years and years of abuse, then we can endure an infinite number of hard days. We have to, because they need us.”

Casey Krisell, former Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter Case Manager

Thank you for being here and helping take care of us. We love you all!

Pearson siblings, ages 12, 8, 6

The Shelter has truly given me hope to pursue my life to the fullest, put my past behind me, and move on to bigger and better things in life. The staff members, who I think of as family, have brought me to realize that I am valuable, strong and able to conquer anything I set my mind on.

Chelsea, age 13

Due to a rough childhood, I had lost all hope in life. The Shelter changed my life for the better. I’ve been given opportunities I never, ever thought I could get in life.”

Rhiannon, age 17