ROGERS, Ark. — Update: Harps Food Stores donated $20,000 to the women's shelter on June 7.
Tornadoes in Arkansas put a lot of nonprofits, businesses, schools, and more on hold until damaged buildings can be fixed.
However, the community will continue to need certain services, and organizations like the NWA Women's Shelter (NWAWS) are working to meet those needs.
NWAWS announced their shelter and thrift store were directly impacted by the storms on May 26. In fact, the shelter, whose location cannot be disclosed for safety reasons, was in the direct path of one of the storms.
"Our brave advocates and amazing staff diligently worked throughout the middle of the night and the next day to ensure the safety of all of our clients," NWAWS said.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of the storms made the shelter "uninhabitable for the foreseeable future," hindering how NWAWS serves the community.
Although they cannot currently house clients in the shelter, NWAWS said they are "pivoting to providing hotel stays." During this transition, NWAWS is asking for the community's support in raising $20,000 to accomplish the following:
- Hotel stays for at least six families for at least one month
- 24/7 advocacy and support
- Groceries
- Gas and transportation
- Clothing and medication
- Other necessities
Three days after announcing they were accepting donations, NWAWS said they had accepted over $6,000 in donations as of Saturday, June 1.
"We are still seeking an additional $14,000 to provide survivors with shelter and all they need to live as comfortably as possible in their new surroundings," NWAWS said. "We understand many people and organizations in the area need help and funds to aid their recovery from the storm damage, so we do not ask lightly for this."
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