How do I sign up?
First decide which lists you would like to be on. You can choose as many as you like! Then contact Toni Mineo, Community Outreach Manager by phone or email. She will add your email address to the lists you specify. Addresses will remain confidential and will not be shared with any other recipients on the list. You may choose to be removed from the list at any time.
(501) 376-3219 tmineo@wcfarkansas.org
Email Notifications
Here are the lists available to anyone interested in becoming active with WCF (click for more information):
• Monthly Top 10 Wish List Get updated on our most current needs each month.
• Immediate Shelter Needs Be “in the know” when immediate needs arise, both volunteer and in-kind.
• Delivery & Moving Assistance Do you have access to a truck or van? Help us move large items for our clients.
• Become a Guardian Angel Commit to helping in an extra special way once a year as unique situations arise.
• Transitional House-warming Receptions Make our clients feel at home when they transition into their own place. .
• Conduct a Supplies Drive Collect much-needed items on our Top 10 Wish List.
• Holiday & Special Events Get creative! Host a party or fun event for the ladies and/or their children .
• Fundraising Event Volunteers Work with our Marketing Committee to put on annual events. .
• Attend a Volunteer Training Learn about our upcoming training opportunities..
• Legislative Events & Updates Find ways to be involved as we make a difference through legislation .
Monthly Top 10 Wish List
Each month, WCF puts together a Top 10 Wish List highlighting the most needed items for the shelter and its programs. These are items that we can use multiples of. Each month the items will change according to what we need and how much storage space we have available. We encourage donors to stick to this Top 10 list as much as possible as we may not be able to accept other unlisted items. We hope you understand the reasoning behind this policy. Email Frequency – Once a month
Immediate Shelter Needs
Different from the Top 10 List, this list communicates immediate, specific shelter and client needs. Examples of these needs are when something breaks or a client needs a specific item that we don’t currently have. It also includes situations when we need immediate volunteer help – assistance in the office, with small deliveries or other situations. Email Frequency – 3-4 times a month
Delivery & Moving Assistance
Though WCF provides a transitional housing program, it does not have a large truck or van to help with the process of moving a client into her new home. We rely on the assistance of those with access to such resources. If you have a truck or van that can be used to move furniture and/or other large items, this is the list for you! Email Frequency – 1-2 times a month
Become a Guardian Angel
While WCF does its best to provide for all client needs, sometimes situations arise that are beyond the limits of what we can do financially. A client may need a medical procedure; family may need transportation out of state; or a child might need glasses so that he can succeed in school. In these instances, we call upon a very generous core of donors – our Guardian Angels. WCF agrees to call upon each angel only once a year and angels are encouraged to specify their maximum gift amount. If the Guardian Angel is unable to help when they are contacted, we ask that they simply say no. Another angel will be contacted. E Email Frequency – Once a year
Transitional House-warming Receptions
Most of the women who arrive at our shelter come with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We provide for their basic needs while they progress through the programs in our shelter. Once a woman is ready to move out on her own, we help find her a place and try our best to get her situated to be living independently – sometimes for the first time in years. At this point, a woman can feel overwhelmed and the idea of returning to her abuser seems like a much better option than trying to make it on her own. To ease this transitional phase, WCF is looking for groups and individuals who are interested in coordinating House-warming Receptions – stocking the cupboards with food and dishes, providing small appliances and furniture items, purchasing bath towels and cleaning supplies and even making the place feel like home with decorations and plants. Some women need more assistance than others as they make a new home livable, so the cost of this task can vary significantly according to the group’s resources. Email Frequency - Varies
Conduct a Supplies Drive
Supplies drives are a great way for school groups, churches and clubs to give on a one-time or a regular basis. Drive items are usually selected from the Top 10 Wish List. Anyone interested in conducting a drive for WCF should contact the Community Outreach Manager. Email Frequency – At your request
Holiday & Special Events
Think of all the special events you celebrate in your home – birthdays, holidays, baby showers, etc. Sometimes you have a party just because you can! Though our resources are limited at the shelter, we try our best to make it possible for the women and children to celebrate special occasions too. If you would like to provide food, games, gifts or treats for our residents for any reason, this is the list for you! All special events must be planned in advance with approval by the Community Outreach Manager. Email Frequency – Varies
Fundraising Event Volunteers
A large source of WCF’s income comes from fundraising events. This email notification will inform recipients when volunteers are needed to help with existing fundraising events. The two annual events, Cabaret and Woman of the Year bring in a significant percentage of the shelter’s budget. These and other smaller events are put on by committees of volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved with fundraising efforts – large or small, new or established, contact the Community Outreach Manager. Email Frequency – Varies
Attend a Volunteer Training
Being a domestic violence shelter, WCF is required to classify volunteers as Direct or Indirect. Direct service volunteers are those who work directly with our women and children. These individuals must complete 6 hours of training, 4 hours of on-site training, background checks and additional paperwork before they are allowed to volunteer. All of this training is provided by the shelter and offered 3 or 4 times a year. This email notification list will inform potential direct service volunteers when and where the next volunteer training will be. Indirect service volunteers are not required to attend this training, but will be limited to helping with projects like maintenance, administrative work and donation sorting. Email Frequency – 3-4 times a year
Legislative Events & Updates
Maintaining our shelter and programs is only part the battle we face when it comes to domestic violence issues. Besides focusing on prevention, we also have to focus on legislation. Arkansas has come a long way over the past decade, but is still behind most states concerning current laws and verbiage. In partnership with the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV), this email notification will keep you abreast with legislative events and information. Email Frequency - Varies