Make a Child Smile finds permanent home for program

CONWAY — Make A Child Smile founder Tracy Stocks was the one smiling as she reported that after 10 years of its nomadic existence, the nonprofit organization finally has a permanent home.

“We’ve come a long way from the bottom of an oil-change place,” she said.

A permanent space is being rented at 1825 E. Oak St., Suite 121, in Conway.

Desperate for any space to store the supplies and clothing given to needy students, Stocks said that during the organization’s second Christmas, space was used in the bottom of a quick-lube business on Dave Ward Drive.

“You know, the place where you look up and see the bottom of the car?” she said.

The owner had space underneath, and that’s where Stocks stored the Make A Child Smile donations.

Granted, the program was much smaller then, she said.

After that, she packed up boxes and plastic tubs of donations and moved them to storage buildings and any empty space available.

The past few years, Jim Rankin Jr., president of Trinity Development, has offered empty space at a reduced rent, she said, until a more permanent occupant was found - something that seemed to happen often.

“It could be open for two years. We’d move in, and that sucker would rent,” she said. “He was extremely generous and said, ‘Look, I know you’re tired of moving around, and we’ll put you some place and leave you.’”

Primarily serving students in Faulkner County, the organization also helps students in Perry, Pulaski and Cleburne counties and “kind of wherever we hear the need,” she said.

The two main programs are the Back to School event, during which students can receive clothing, free haircuts, hygiene products and more; and Christmas assistance, when presents are given out to students.

“This past Christmas, with funds being down, we served about 400,” she said. “The fact that we’re in a permanent space is going to hugely help us. Once we can get everything set up, we will be open by appointment.

“If there’s a need and we can help it, we’re going to go ahead and fill it, whether it’s back-to-school time or Christmastime, or whatever.”

The organization is funded by cash donations, grants and fundraisers, such as poker tournaments and its newest endeavor, a monthly bunco tournament. Bunco Night will be held from 7-9 the last Tuesday of each month at 55 Nabco St. in Conway. Thecost is $10 per person.

Also, bingo will be held in the same location on Friday and Saturday nights beginning Feb. 10, with proceeds going to Make A Child Smile, Stocks said. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and play will begin at 6:15.

Make A Child Smile is seeking donations of new or gently used clothes and shoes for teenagers; hygiene and school supplies; and even items for students’ bedrooms.

Donations may be dropped off at Stocks Mortgage, 1309 Main St., and checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 2363, Conway, AR 72033.

Stocks said a teenager called recently and asked for hygiene products.

“You know, ‘We have no money, and I need to wash my hair,’” Stocks said the girl told her.

Stocks said the organization helps one woman, who is raising her grandchildren, year-round.

Stocks recalled going to the woman’s house to take some extra food she’d been given and seeing nothing but a bottle of ketchup in the family’s refrigerator.

“That was the saddest thing I’d ever seen,” Stocks said.

Now, she said, Make A Child Smile routinely takes clothing and shoes to the woman for her grandchildren.

Martha Cullins of Mayflower has volunteered with the organization for years, then became a recipient of its services.

Cullins said she is on a fixed income and is raising her 7-year-old great-grandson.

“He’s in school, and I took him in, … and he had needed school clothes, and she came through for me, and she came through for me at Christmas,” Cullins said, referring to Stocks.

“She really made him happy for Christmas. I don’t know what I would have done.

“I just knew the organization was there, and all I knew is, all I had to do is open my mouth, and she would come through.” Cullins said she has volunteered at the new location, too.

Stocks, who lives in Vilonia and owns a mortgage company in Conway, started the organization in 2002 after she was involved in the Faulkner County Leadership Institute andattended a luncheon in the Pine Street area of Conway.

She started talking to a police officer about some of the needs, “kids that had shoes that couldn’t be called shoes, and my daughter had a closet full,” she said.

Stocks started by cleaning out her daughter’s closet to donate shoes and clothes, and the project grew from there.

The organization now has a five-member board of directors - and a permanent space.

“There’s not a lot of storage room, but we’ve got somebody who’s built some shelves in there, and we’ve applied for a grant to get some other stuff,” Stocks said. “We’re going up - it’s a lot smaller than anything we’ve ever had.”

She’s not complaining, she quickly added.

“It’s awesome - we’re very lucky to have it,” Stocks said. “This is Make A Child Smile - this is our permanent location. Once I get $200, I’m going to get a sign put up.”

Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 57 on 02/02/2012

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