In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 26th multiple confirmed EF2 and EF3 tornadoes devastated several communities throughout Northwest Arkansas, specifically Benton County where NWAWS is located. While we are luckier than many, our Shelter and Thrift Store were directly impacted by the storms and their aftermath.
The Shelter (the exact location of which is undisclosed for safety reasons) was in the direct path of one of the storms and 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. We are so proud of them and are eternally grateful for their hard work behind the scenes and their immense grace under pressure during a distressing time.
We have had many inquiries regarding how people can help. That’s the beauty of this community, and why we know that NWA won’t be down for long! This area is full of compassionate and kind-hearted people who have stepped up in a huge way to make sure their neighbors are taken care of.
Our shelter sustained significant damage from the storm, making it uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. As such, we are currently unable to provide safe shelter to our clients. To continue to meet the needs of survivors seeking safety, we have pivoted to providing hotel stays. Our community and a very generous local business (more details coming soon) helped us exceed our goal of raising $20,000 to provide support for survivors. We are astounded by the generosity and compassion of this community and are honored to call Northwest Arkansas home.
If you still would like to donate monetarily, you can do so by clicking the button below. Thank you! 💜
We do have some pressing needs to help provide survivors with all they need to live as comfortably as possible in their new surroundings:
- Grocery Gift Cards
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Stand-Up or Tower Fans (no box fans please)
If you have donations, please drop them off at our Thrift Store location (1622 S 8th St, Rogers, AR 72756) Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please do not leave donations at any other time.
We will update you as we continue to assess the needs of the Shelter and our community. Please be sure to follow us on our social media platforms and subscribe to our newsletter for updates and resources.
If you or someone you know has also been affected by the storms, these sites have lists of resources available:
We are immensely grateful for the generosity and support of Northwest Arkansas and beyond which continues to inspire hope in this challenging time. We know that this community will come back stronger than ever! We are committed to helping it do so as we continue our mission of providing shelter and support at any hour for those affected by domestic violence in NWA.