Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – A contingent of us from the Clinton School took a day trip to the Arkansas Delta this week where we visited partner organizations and others who are providing a spark to this beloved but struggling region of the state. We mixed some great food with stops at places where Clinton School students are working to make a difference in the lives of the people here. Our first stop was Marvell, Ark., home of Mustangs and Ford’s Grocery, one of the few surviving downtown grocery stores in East Arkansas. Here is the first installment of a three-part report on the trip:
(Marvell, Ark.) – As you can tell by its name, The Boys, Girls, Adult, Community Development Center (BGACDC) in Marvell, Ark., is virtually a one-stop shop for public service in this community. And as part of the Clinton School’s work in the Arkansas Delta region, several students are completing their group public service project by working with the BGACDC to develop a long-term organizational plan so this facility can continue its invaluable service to the Marvell community. From after school care and housing initiatives to leadership development and social activities, the BGACDC and its director, Beatrice Shelby, have been serving children and adults in Marvell for more than 30 years.
Marvell is a community that desperately needs the services the BGACDC is providing, and it’s hard to fathom the difference being made here unless you visit. One of the major efforts of Clinton School students Sanford Johnson, Molly Ann Brunkow and Ryan Lewis is to help the BGACDC implement a fundraising strategy. As Johnson points out, successful people who grew up in the Marvell area and have since moved away would likely be very interested in supporting their hometown. With all of the programs running through this small facility, any gifts, large or small, provide significant help.
If you are a Marvell native or just someone interested in helping the BGACDC, donating is easy. Send your tax deductible donation to the BGACDC, P.O. Box 1356, Marvell, AR 72366.
Beatrice Shelby, director of the BGACDC
Ford’s Grocery, downtown Marvell
UP NEXT: A visit to Helena, Ark., and the renaissance of historic Cherry Street.