LITTLE ROCK -- With the 40 days of Lent approaching, Methodist Family Health has a way for Arkansans to honor the season by contributing to children and families who are abandoned, abused, neglected and managing psychiatric, emotional, behavioral and spiritual issues, a news release said.
The 10th Annual Get Up & Give collection project allows Arkansans to contribute necessities to the children and families in the care of Methodist Family Health. The project runs the entire 40 days of Lent, from Wednesday, March 6, through Thursday, April 18.
Both children and adults can participate by donating personal hygiene items, clothes, shoes, school supplies, bedding, funds and other necessities to the Methodist Counseling Clinic in their community.
Contributions can be delivered to the closest Methodist Family Health Counseling Clinic beginning Monday, April 22. In Hot Springs, the drop-off location is located at 100 Ridgeway, Suite 5. Call 501-318-6066 for more information.
"The mission of Methodist Family Health is to provide the best possible care to those who may need our help, and Arkansans, regardless of age, can help us accomplish this," Kelli Reep, director of communications at Methodist Family Health, said in the release.
"The Lenten season is usually thought of as a time to give up or fast from something in our lives, but it also can be a time to take on something that renews our spirit and connection to our neighbor. Get Up & Give is an easy to do this, and it makes a tremendous impact on the children and families we serve," Reep said.
"Many of our kids are in the foster care system or have families with few monetary resources," she said. "Providing them things like new underwear, deodorant, their own school supplies -- even books and toys -- demonstrates to them that someone they have never even met cares about their well-being."
Methodist Family Health asks that all items contributed through Get Up & Give are new. Monetary donations also can be contributed so specific items can be purchased to meet the needs of the Arkansas children and families in its care.
A complete list of items can be downloaded at https://www.methodistfamily.org/get-up-and-give.html.
Call Reep at [email protected] or 501-906-4210 for more information.
Founded in 1899 as the Arkansas Methodist Orphanage, Methodist Family Health is celebrating its 120th anniversary. Each year, Methodist Family Health serves thousands of Arkansas children and their families who are abused, abandoned, neglected and have psychiatric, emotional, behavioral and spiritual issues. Methodist Family Health has locations throughout the state, including the Methodist Behavioral Hospital, two residential treatment centers, eight therapeutic group homes, an emergency shelter, a day treatment program, eight counseling clinics, nine school-based counseling clinics, a grief center for children and their families, and the Arkansas Center for Addictions Research, Education and Services, or Arkansas CARES, the release said.
Society on 01/06/2019