The CALL in Southeast Arkansas
Press Release
Re: Grand Opening of THe CALL’s Center
October 16, 2023
The CALL in Southeast Arkansas announces the Grand Opening of their CALL Mall &
Center on Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The CALL’s center is
located on the campus of one of The CALL’s church partners, Pauline Baptist Church, in
the upstairs portion of their Childcare Center building.
The CALL’s space includes a “CALL Mall,” which provides boutique-style shopping of
clothing, shoes, necessities, hygiene products, diapers, etc. for all children and youth in
foster care in Southeast Arkansas. Stefanie Abbott, CALL Mall Coordinator, has created
an uplifting shopping experience for children experiencing difficult times. The CALL Mall
also includes furniture and “gear,” such as strollers and carseats, to be checked out by
foster and adoptive families to meet the needs of the children in their care.
In addition to The CALL’s first physical office and meeting space, the center also
provides a Therapeutic Resource Library for foster and adoptive families. The library
contains therapeutic books related to foster care, adoption, loss, and other relevant
social-emotional issues for children and caregivers. The library also includes therapeutic
sensory tools to be checked out by foster and adoptive parents as they seek to meet the
unique needs of children and youth in their care.
The Southeast Arkansas community is invited to come explore the CALL’s first physical
space. Refreshments, doorprizes, and CALL merchandise will all be available during the
event, and The CALL’s Leadership Team, representing three of the six counties served
by The CALL in Southeast Arkansas, will be present, as well.
The CALL in Southeast Arkansas is an affiliate of a statewide, non-profit organization
that mobilizes local churches to serve local children and youth placed in foster care. The
Southeast Arkansas affiliate is nearing a decade of ministry which has expanded over
time to serve six counties: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, Drew, and Lincoln. The CALL
provides a way for Christians to invite the mission field into their homes, to serve those
most vulnerable in their communities. The CALL partners with the Division of Children
and Family Services to recruit, train and support foster and adoptive families for children
and teens in foster care. The CALL’s hope is to see a day where there are no children in
Arkansas waiting for families, because what children and youth in foster care need most
is a family to care for them as they heal from abuse or neglect.