Community Resource Center receives $105,000 grant; organizers seeking $14,340 match

Sally Carter, a volunteer leader for the Community Resource Center, and city staff updated the Hot Springs City Board of Directors on the center’s operations, recent grant funding and fundraising needs.

Carter told the board the center now hosts at least 14 nonprofit partners on a weekly basis, provides services to veterans and older adults, and is building transportation capacity following a $105,000 grant from Oak Lawn (identified in the meeting as Oak Lawn Foundation). Carter said the grant enabled the purchase of a van and that the center planned to pick it up within the week; the van will be used to transport residents to meals and medical appointments and to support cooling-shelter and outreach efforts.

Carter described a matching gift arrangement in which a donor pledged to match up to $50,000 and the center still needs $14,340 to complete that match. Mayor Pat McCabe announced a $1,000 donation from himself and his wife during the meeting. City Manager Bill and Carter invited board members and the public to visit the center, which serves as a cooling shelter on extreme-heat days and operates daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the city’s shower trailer schedule and volunteer sign-up were discussed in the city manager’s report.

City Manager Bill confirmed the Oak Lawn Foundation grant and noted ongoing volunteer needs for weekend operations; he also reminded residents that the center and composter facility would be closed on the July 4 holiday. No formal board action was taken; staff encouraged residents and trustees to support the remaining fundraising goal and to volunteer at the center.