Jones Center and Walmart to create a regional volunteer center

The Jones Center for Families in Springdale received a $1.2 million grant from Walmart and its foundation to establish the Northwest Arkansas Regional Volunteer Center, slated to open in 2027 with offices in Springdale and Rogers.

Joe Lloyd, CEO of the Jones Center, and Julie Gehrki, president of Walmart Foundation, announced the initiative at the community center’s 30th anniversary event held in Springdale on Thursday (April 16).

“We are inspired to build on Jones Center’s reputation for promoting connection and community health,” Lloyd said. “This initiative creates a path for every resident to find purpose through service, and every non-profit to have the tools they need to thrive.”

He said in today’s world, where one can feel more disconnected, it’s places like the Jones Center that offer a sense of community regardless of political views or economic status. That was the mission set by founders Bernice and Harvey Jones when they created the vision for the center more than three decades ago, he said.

Tyson Foods is also joining as an operational partner for the volunteer center. This spring, research will take place, and corporate and community task forces will be formed to engage local business and community leaders. Town hall meetings and public forums will be held in the summer to gather feedback and encourage discussion. Lloyd said the center’s launch will take place with a phased rollout of programs in 2027.

Colletta Patterson was recently appointed as the volunteer center planning director to lead planning and preparation for the 2027 launch. Patterson, a native of Northwest Arkansas, has more than 20 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership. She said her vision is to create a “seat at the table” for all community perspectives while building a robust pipeline that makes volunteering top of mind for residents.

Gehrki said research shows that people who serve together foster communities that serve together and become more resilient. She said they bounce back faster after a natural disaster because they can call on one another.

“I think Northwest Arkansas is uniquely special with many different opportunities, organizations and places where people can connect,” she said. “When we connect with others at the community level, it’s also good for our individual health. For Walmart, the regional volunteer center is supporting a systems approach to creating a more caring and connected community.”

According to AmeriCorps, Arkansas’ volunteer rate is 28%, representing about 871,000 residents. Raising the rate to 39%, the average of the top 10 states, would engage more than 333,000 additional volunteers.

Dr. Claude Pirtle, president of the Heartland Whole Health Institute, said during the event that studies show, excluding genetics, people who make healthy food choices, move with regular exercises like dance and walking, and have regular social interactions will live longer and healthier lives. He said social interactions can also be grown through volunteering and acts of service.

Celia Swanson, board chair of the Jones Trust, said she was surprised to read in the surgeon general’s recent report that socialized isolation or loneliness is a growing trend and increases the risk of premature death by 30%, similar to smoking 15 cigarettes per day. She said one in two residents across the country are alone, and half of the meals consumed daily are eaten alone.

Organizers believe the new regional volunteer center will foster connections for individuals new to the region and those just needing to find ways to serve in their communities.

“Taking a major step to grow volunteerism across the region will reinforce social bonds while enhancing local nonprofits and their impact,” Gehrki said. “We are proud to partner with the Jones Center to make this vision a reality.”