"Soup Sunday" Helps Give Children a Voice
By: Rebecca Jeffrey
Updated: February 24, 2013
More than 25,000 children are suffering from poverty in Benton and Washington counties, but one local organization is working hard to change that statistic.
The Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families hosted "Soup Sunday" today to help raise awareness and funds to change this statistic.
There are more kids who live in poverty in Benton County than any county in the Arkansas delta.
"We have higher child poverty in Northwest Arkansas than a lot of people are aware of," Northwest Arkansas Director for AACF said.
Which is what Kellams and the AACF are working to change.
"In Washington County the child poverty rate is now higher than the state average. More than 28 percent of children in Washington County live in poverty."
AACF are working with lawmakers to give a voice to those who need it most.
"We try to get legislation passed to try to get more kids into after school programs, to have more healthcare for kids and to get more kids in Pre-K programs," Kellams said.
Giving thousands of children in Northwest Arkansas a fighting chance.
"The reason that poverty matters is that kids that live in poverty are statistically less likely to have the kind of opportunities that are going to allow them to succeed."
Local supporter Christine Hartman has committed to changing the sad statistics.
"If you're able to help them I think it's your duty as a good human to do what you can to help meet their needs," Hartman said.
It's not just helping those who can't help themselves, either.
"When more kids succeed we all succeed as a community and as a state," Kellams said.
Reversing a devastating cycle.
The Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families hosted "Soup Sunday" today to help raise awareness and funds to change this statistic.
There are more kids who live in poverty in Benton County than any county in the Arkansas delta.
"We have higher child poverty in Northwest Arkansas than a lot of people are aware of," Northwest Arkansas Director for AACF said.
Which is what Kellams and the AACF are working to change.
"In Washington County the child poverty rate is now higher than the state average. More than 28 percent of children in Washington County live in poverty."
AACF are working with lawmakers to give a voice to those who need it most.
"We try to get legislation passed to try to get more kids into after school programs, to have more healthcare for kids and to get more kids in Pre-K programs," Kellams said.
Giving thousands of children in Northwest Arkansas a fighting chance.
"The reason that poverty matters is that kids that live in poverty are statistically less likely to have the kind of opportunities that are going to allow them to succeed."
Local supporter Christine Hartman has committed to changing the sad statistics.
"If you're able to help them I think it's your duty as a good human to do what you can to help meet their needs," Hartman said.
It's not just helping those who can't help themselves, either.
"When more kids succeed we all succeed as a community and as a state," Kellams said.
Reversing a devastating cycle.
