The CALL, a nonprofit that works with churches to recruit, train and support foster and adoptive families, will hold its annual fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 10.
Hundreds of people are expected at Fall for The CALL, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church Glenwood. This marks the 10th year for the fundraiser which benefits the organization’s affiliate for Pike and Montgomery counties.
The CALL is a statewide faith-based organization with a presence in all 75 Arkansas counties. It partners with the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services to help find families for children and teenagers who enter foster care because of abuse or neglect.
Stacy Cowart, a member of the local leadership team, said the fundraiser provides important support for the group.
“We rely on donations, and we have a lot of churches and individuals that give to us monthly, but we do this big fundraiser once a year,” Cowart said. “It’s a vendor fair to raise awareness for The CALL, but also to raise money to support it.”
An online auction will be held on Facebook during the week leading up to the event, with winning bidders able to pick up their items at the event.
The fundraiser comes amid a shortage of foster homes in Pike and Montgomery counties. The group says the shortage can result in children being placed outside the area, removing them from familiar schools and friends.
Cowart said finding enough local families has remained difficult throughout the years.
“It absolutely is an ongoing challenge,” Cowart said. “We always, always need more families. A lot of our families have adopted and then closed to fostering after adoption, so we always need to recruit more families.”
The CALL was founded in Arkansas in 2007 and expanded statewide in 2010. The organization says its goal is to have enough families available so no Arkansas child has to wait for a family able to care for them.
Cowart said Fall for The CALL has attracted an estimated 500 to 600 people in previous years, though organizers do not take an exact attendance count.
More than 45 vendors offering a wide variety of items are expected this year, along with food, giveaways and activities for children.
“We have a kids corner, bounce houses, face painting and a train ride for the kids,” Cowart said. “There will be lots of good food and shopping. We’re also going to be doing a lot of giveaways that day.”
The Pike and Montgomery counties affiliate has a support center at 210 Fagan St. in Glenwood.
