FORT SMITH – A much-needed organization in the Fort Smith area celebrates twenty years of service to the community. The Childrens’ Emergency Shelter held a ceremony with various community leaders to mark the anniversary.
The Shelter, which was named as Arkansas Business’ Non Profit Of The Year in 2017, provides service to a number of the area’s most vulnerable citizens. Those served include:
- Abused and neglected children ages 6-17 years old
- Up to 24 children per night
- 12 boys/12 girls per night
- Over 300 children per year
- The entire state of Arkansas, primarily children from Area 2
(Crawford County, Franklin County, Johnson County, Logan County, Scott County, Sebastian County, and Yell County)
According to their website, the organization serves as Sebastian County’s only DCFS-approved emergency shelter for homeless boys and girls, the children served by the CES have been removed from their family homes through no fault of their own. Most are the victims of abuse or neglect, while others are the children of parents who, for a variety of reasons, cannot or will not care for them and keep them safe.
“These are our community’s children in crisis. They have been denied the opportunity to live their early years in safety among trusted adults, which should be every child’s birthright.” The Shelter says. “Often their world is changed beyond recognition overnight by the actions of their families. They no longer have their own bed, their own neighborhood friends, or the love and support of those who should care most about them. In a real sense, their hope for a happy childhood has been taken from them.”
For more information about the Childrens’ Emergency Shelter, visit their website by clicking here.
