GRAVETTE — Gravette is known as a caring community. Food and flowers are taken to the homes of those who have lost loved ones; blankets and clothing are collected for families whose homes have burned; benefit fundraisers are held for those who have serious accidents or devastating medical expenses. Whatever the need, folks rally around and try to meet it.

One local organization has a long history of meeting needs. It was formed in early 1983 when representatives from13 churches met to explore ways to help people in crisis. The project, named “Care and Share,” opened its doors on April 6 of that year in the council room of the city hall.

Volunteers manned the store where anyone in need could come to get clothing, canned goods and vouchers for food.

Clothing was donated by local people and much was received from Helping Hands in Bentonville. Many volunteers helped sort and hang the clothing and members of the participating churchesrotated duties, manning the store a month at a time. The store was a welcome haven and solved the problem of those in need knocking on area pastors’ doors, often late at night.

The Care and Share store saw several changes over the next few years, moving to a building on the north side of Main Street (now the home of Shelter Insurance) and later to its present location on the south side of Main Street. Some churches dropped out and others joined the effort but its purpose remained the same, to help those in need. Ten churches are participating now and they rotate duties every week.

Today the store is operated a bit differently. Thoseutilizing the store must live within the boundaries of School District 20. They may visit the store once every four months. They must register and then are given canned goods or vouchers for groceries at Marvin’s. Clothing, shoes and household items are sold in the store at bargain prices. Families needing additional help are referred to the Feed My Sheep food pantry operated on Thursday in the Can-Do Hardware building.

Despite the fact that Care and Share urges donors to contribute only clean, usable merchandise in good condition, dirty, damaged or unusable items are sometimes left at their doors. In an effort to be as “green” as possible and protect the earth’s resources, volunteers try to find a use for everything they can.

Plastic hangers and bagsand unusable metal hangers are taken to Rogers for recycling, unsold clothing is taken to the AARP recycling center in Bella Vista and unsold shoes are given to a person who sends them to an organization called Soles for Souls.

A Care and Share Specialty Shop operated for a short time at the former city hall building on Main Street. About two years ago, on May 1, 2009, it moved to larger quarters at the corner of Huntington Street and Highway 59 South, a building formerly occupied by the Church of Christ, Scientist. The Specialty Shop carries upscale merchandise, seasonal items and larger items such as furniture and has the advantage of more parking space than the downtown store.

Care and Share hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at theMain Street store and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Specialty Shop. Persons seeking to obtain grocery vouchers or needing help to pay utility bills should apply from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Main Street store only. The store can also be contacted by calling 787-6760.

Additional volunteers are always appreciated and the participation of more churches would be welcome. Anyone interested in the work of this charitable organization or wishing to volunteer is invited to attend the Care and Share annual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church fellowship hall in Bella Vista. A potluck meal will be shared. A mortgage payoff celebration for the Specialty Shop will be held and plans for the future will be presented.

News, Pages 1 on 04/06/2011