About 100 Tyson Food Service Team Members took part in a volunteer project Wednesday, Nov. 17, to help move the EOA (Economic Opportunity Agency) Children’s House to its new location in Springdale, Arkansas. The new facility is designed to enhance the lives of abused and neglected children in Northwest Arkansas.
Tyson employees helped move items from the old existing EOA Children’s House facility located off Razorback Roadin Fayettevilleto their new building located at 2577 N. Lowell Rd.n Springdale. The move will enable the center to increase its service capacity by 328 percent, allowing them to serve up to 72 children.
The new center is the largest stand alone facility of its kind in the United Statesand has been designed exclusively for the long-term treatment of abused and neglected children under six years of age. It has the potential to elevate Arkansasto the status of a national leader in the effort to break the cycle of child abuse, according to EOA officials.
“Tyson Foods is a longtime partner in the EOA Children’s House mission for ‘Stopping Child Abuse. Saving Lives’,” says McLintock, CFRE, director of development for EOA. “We are very excited to expand that partnership with the involvement of the Tyson Food Service Group.
“Providing nourishing meals for the children at EOA Children's House is one of the essential components that make the program so effective,” McLintock says. “It may not sound like much on the surface, but the impact on these children is huge, because they know someone is taking the time to prepare a meal just for them. It is a perfect fit to have the involvement and support of Tyson Foods, Inc., in this aspect of the new center’s activities.”
Tyson Foods, Inc. has donated $100,000 to the capital building plan and more than $22,000 to completely furbish the kitchen, dining room, and kitchen office for the new facility. Team members were at the new facility from 1-4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 17, helping with unpacking, assembling, and stocking items they purchased for the kitchen and dining area. They also helped move playground equipment and helped set up garage sale items for EOA Children’s House families at the Springdale Robinson Avenue Church of Christ.
“Children’s House is playing an important role in the lives of children in need and we’re pleased to provide financial and volunteer support to help the organization prepare for its new home,” says Nick Tyler, senior vice president and general manager of Tyson Food Service Distribution Sales.
“This is a tremendous gift that EOA Children’s House will get a lot of mileage out of,” McLintock says. “The Tyson Food Service Group and Tyson Foods, Inc., are in full support of providing top quality furnishings and commercial-grade kitchen hardware for the new center, because we will get the maximum life-expectancy out of that equipment. Regular consumer grade equipment and furnishings would have to be replaced in a few years. Some of the hardware they are helping to provide can last for decades with the proper care.”
A child is abused every 10 seconds in the United Statesand each day three children die as a result of abuse or neglect. In the state of Arkansas, there was a 47 percent increase in child abuse and neglect between 2000 and 2007. There is a tremendous need for a safe haven for children suffering from abuse and neglect. Since 1978, EOA Children’s House has been serving this need by providing a safe and secure place for children to overcome the devastating effects of abuse and neglect. EOA Children’s House provides services that address psychological, physical, and speech needs and creates customized development curriculum and therapeutic treatment plans that address each abuse victim’s specific needs. There is no other program in the state that offers the services the EOA Children’s House offers to abused children.
