Central Arkansas non-profit expanding, aims to meet needs of foster kids

GARLAND COUNTY, Ark. – A central Arkansas organization is working to help foster children and families through a new expansion.

The Call in Garland and Hot Spring Counties is expanding their Call Mall, a place for foster families to shop for items when children come into their care. Officials said that’s just one way they’re expanding.

Tonya Ross, the Garland and Hot Spring County Coordinator, said more than 200 children are in foster care in Garland and Hot Spring Counties and only about 70 foster families are in the counties.

“The need is just increasing all the time in Garland County,” Ross said.

The Call is a faith-based nonprofit hoping to work with the Christian community to care for children in foster care. They see firsthand the need in the state.

“About 50% of the children are over the age of 5 in foster care in our counties, so we have a need for larger size clothing for school-aged children, teens,” Ross said.

One way they’re working to equip foster families is through their Call Mall and now they’re expanding, hanger by hanger and room by room.

Ross said it’s a place where parents can shop for clothes, toys and other items for children in their care.

“We’re asking people step into some really hard places, when they become foster parents or when they adopt children out of foster care, and we want to eliminate any barriers that we can,” Ross said.

Not only are they physically expanding, but also expanding the organization too.

“ The Answer is the sister organization of the Calls,” Ross said. “We will be licensing foster homes.”

They do all of this and more with the vision of having no waiting children in foster care in Arkansas.

“We’re just trying to alleviate any of those barriers so that people can be more willing to say ‘yes’ and step into this world of foster care,” Ross said.

The new space is operational, however it needs some finishing touches.

Ross said they’re hoping to have it fully ready to go by July 20, when they’re having a back-to-school bash for foster families and children, so the parents can shop while the children play.

Those interested in learning about The Call can visit their website at TheCallInArkansas.org .

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