Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Needs List

Our Current Needs

We are so grateful to the Northwest Arkansas community for their generosity. It is only with community support that we can continue to provide a safe haven and loving care to the children who need us the most.

Please stay tuned to this page for updates to our Needs List and thank you for your support of the youth in our care!

Due to limited space, we are not able to accept the following at this time:
Used toys
Household goods

Walmart Needs List Registry

Items purchased from the Walmart Registry can be shipped directly to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

Kitchen Needs
Eggs
American cheese
Shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses
Individually packaged snacks
Chicken strips, chicken nuggets
Bread
Pasta (spaghetti, egg noodles, elbow macaroni, rotini, etc.)
Instant mashed potatoes
Macaroni & Cheese
Rice/Wild Rice (bags)
Peanut-free snacks

Needs for Teen Girls
Bras – all sizes
Jeans for teen girls – S-2XL
Athletic shorts for teen girls – S-XL
T-shirts – L and XL
Wax strips – for hair removal
Swimsuits for teen girls – S-2XL
Women’s leggings M-XL
Summer pajamas – M-XL
Jeans – sizes 11, 18-20
Women’s shoes – size 6.5

Needs for Teen Boys
Men’s athletic shorts – S-L
Swim trunks for teen boys – S-2XL
Men’s underwear – all sizes
Men’s summer shirts – S-M

Hair Care Needs
Hairbrushes
Hair conditioner (all hair types)
Products for natural, textured hair: edge control, curling cream, scalp oil, detangler, leave-in hair cream

Miscellaneous Needs
New or gently used suitcases and duffel bags
Ziptop bags – all sizes (sandwich, quart, gallon)
Reusable water bottles
Laundry soap
Body wash
XBox Series X controllers and games
Dryer sheets
Paper towels
Blue painter’s tape
13-gallon and 55-gallon trash bags
Toilet paper
Paper clips: regular & jumbo
Tab dividers with pockets
File folders
Folders with prongs and pockets
Hanging file folders
Legal Pads
Postage meter labels
Filament for 3D printer 1.75mm with print temperature 190-220 degrees
Fidget toys
Rubik’s cubes
Lip balm

Drop Off Donations

Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter
860 NW Vaughn Road
Bentonville, AR 72713
Donations are accepted Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Thank you so much for your support of our kids!

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 by a 14-year-old named Wesley*. At first, we were thrilled to hear it. We were so glad that he felt safe and comfortable here at the Shelter. That means 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 by a 14-year-old named Wesley*. At first, we were thrilled to hear it. We were 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 us 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 ours. 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.

We wish every child in Arkansas had a loving, supportive home. We 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.

*name and image changed to protect privacy

I tried a cupcake for the first time.

Kylee, age 6

I’m so glad that I got to spend my 12th birthday here at the Shelter. It was truly the best!

Marly, age 12

I rode on a tire swing for the first time!

Mitchell, age 10