Photography by Jamison Mosley
In the midst of the devastation, community is a beacon of hope. Our shared humanity is undeniable, and in Central Arkansas – it’s a resilient resource for recovery efforts. There is destruction + darkness for many of our neighbors, but those of us who are able are committed to making the Capital City a little brighter.
And support comes from unexpected places … ingenuity is incredible … love is everlasting … together we can rebuild … These are just a few of the organizations making a difference.
Goodwill Industries Arkansas
President & CEO Brian Marsh
WHAT WE DO
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas transforms lives through education, training and employment. More than 300,000 adults in Arkansas lack a high school diploma. The Arkansas Workforce Development Board reveals that many of the state’s top industries are facing a shortage of skilled trade workers. Goodwill bridges the gap through four crucial services that are funded, in part, through the sale of donated gently used goods.
PROVIDED CRITICAL HELP
After the tornadoes, many people were in immediate need of necessities; as a community partner, it is our responsibility to help in any way we can. We determined that our expertise in transportation, donation management and storage facilities could greatly benefit the community. Our employees also volunteered time staffing donation centers, organizing donations and transporting donations to distribution centers.
CHALLENGES
The city was confronted with the challenge of managing the donations, and we offered assistance by facilitating the collection and sorting of donated items. These boxes were placed on pallets, loaded onto trucks and transported to locations throughout the city.
LESSONS LEARNED
Our staff is better equipped to respond with even more efficiency to such catastrophes, thanks to the lessons we learned from our recent experience.
SURPRISING BUT TRUE
Our involvement in the immediate and ongoing aftermath of the tornado disaster played a critical role in executing a well-coordinated relief strategy.
INSPIRATION
We have been impressed by the collaboration between various municipalities, organizations, numerous volunteers and the overwhelming display of compassion.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Our ability to contribute towards the rebuilding of the community is due to generous donations. We are committed to continuing our efforts in serving communities in Arkansas and making a positive impact.
Southern Hearts Rescue
Whitney Rae & Christopher Haag
WHAT WE DO
We work to end animal abuse, neglect and homelessness. We rely on donations and will be rescuing animals until there are no more left to rescue.
PROVIDED CRITICAL HELP
We organized quickly to make a plan for the many animals that we knew would be displaced as well as their owners. We were limited in what we could do to help, but we were able to save dozens of animals and reunite pets with owners. We hosted a community drive and through donations we had the resources to assist displaced owners by providing free dog food, cat food, blankets, dog beds and other pet essentials.
CHALLENGES
Unfortunately, animals are not a priority during a crisis like the tornado. That is where we come in; we have many years of experience in rescue and have encountered this type of rescue after a disaster.
LESSONS LEARNED
Being pretty independent, we usually don’t face governmental restrictions – we learned that there needs to be major improvements for the plan for animals and their owners during a disaster. We plan to be proactive in reaching out to other organizations so that there will be a more cohesive plan whenever this happens again.
SURPRISING BUT TRUE
There is a lack of resources available to the public in a crisis such as this.
INSPIRATION
The tornado had not even left the area and we were already receiving requests for assistance from owners, vet clinics and other rescues. The way the rescue community comes together is really inspirational.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
It didn’t shift my perspective but reinforced my dedication to rescue. There is a great need and it is my life’s mission to save as many animals as I can.
City of Little Rock Disaster Relief Center
Director of Donations & Logistics Mike Garrity
WHAT WE DO
The City of Little Rock is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents by providing exceptional service in an efficient and equitable manner.
PROVIDED CRITICAL HELP
Staff from different departments came together, some meeting for the first time, to take care of a variety of tasks that didn’t really fall into any one specific job description. It was the mentality of do what needs to be done and make sure that those who have been affected have what they need.
CHALLENGES
Managing how donations of food, water, goods, money and time were going to be accepted and distributed proved most challenging.
LESSONS LEARNED
Having a plan is critical, but even more critical is following that plan. The City of Little Rock puts a lot of work into planning for emergencies and identifying the right people to be involved in the response. While no plan is perfect, when followed, this city responds well in an emergency.
SURPRISING BUT TRUE
The willingness of others to help those in need was more than I expected.
INSPIRATION
We had a number of organizations that stepped in the moment the storm passed and offered assistance. They are here for this community all of the time.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
I met people and was introduced to businesses and other entities that I had no idea existed in our community. This really broadened what I now consider “my community” to be. As bad as the headlines sometimes are about what happens in Little Rock, this community really does care and will show up when needed.
Mike Garrity also serves as Race Director of the Little Rock Marathon
