Central Arkansas nonprofit expands to meet needs of children in foster care

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

The Call of Garland and Hot Spring counties is expanding its Call Mall, a place where foster families can purchase items when children are in their care. Officials said it’s just one way they’re expanding.

Tonya Ross, coordinator for Garland and Hot Spring counties, said there are more than 200 children in foster care in Garland and Hot Spring counties and there are only about 70 foster families in the counties.

“The need continues to grow in Garland County,” Ross said.

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

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

One of the ways they are working to equip host families is through their call center and they are now expanding, hanger by hanger and room by room.

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

“We’re asking people to go into really difficult situations, when they’re becoming foster parents or adopting children from foster care, and we want to remove every barrier that they can,” Ross said.

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

“The Answer is Calls’ sister organization,” Ross said. “We’re going to license foster homes.”

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

“We’re just trying to remove those barriers so that people are more willing to say ‘yes’ and enter this world of foster care,” Ross said.

The new space is operational, but it requires some finishing touches.

Ross said they hope to have the project fully completed by July 20, when they will host a back-to-school party for host families and children, so parents can shop while the kids play.

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