CONWAY, Ark. — Now that water levels along the Arkansas River are under flood stage, the cleanup process is in full swing across central Arkansas.
Instead of spending their vacation lounging on the couch or by the pool, a group of teenagers from New Life Church in Conway are getting their hands dirty and their feet wet for their community.
The Arkansas Dream Center serves as an arm out of New Life Church and they have been helping people clean up since May 31.
Dr. Quentin Washispack, Mission and Outreach for New Life Church, said they are here to serve people.
“Well, people are just so thankful. Sometimes they even break down and cry because it is like an answered prayer to them because they’ve lost everything,” Washispack said.
He said most of the people they are helping don’t have flood insurance. The Arkansas Dream Center has completed 38 and out of their 70 requests and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“We are going to try to address the areas of Conway so we have gone to Bigelow, Houston, Mayflower and Conway. When we are done with that we are going to start helping Forth Smith and Pine Bluff,” Washispack said.
Joey Eggemeyer, a junior in high school, moved to Little Rock just a month ago from Georgia.
“Something was really on my heart about getting involved so I started looking for ways I could get involved in the church and in the ministry," he said. "The flood just happened in Arkansas, so I thought this was the best time to get involved with the church and help people out,” Eggemeyer said.
He said helping others is something that comes naturally to him and he wants to continue to serve.
“I feel like to change and make big change you need to be that person to show others to start change. I really want to change the way people help out and view the world,” Eggemeyer said.
Washispack said these teenagers are special kids with big hearts.
“We want them to go out and be a light,” he said.
If you want to volunteer or need help cleaning up text AR Flood to 8800 or you can text AR Flood to 74483 and put in a dollar amount that will go directly to flood relief.
The Arkansas Dream Center will be continuing their cleanup on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday leaving the New Life Church in Conway at 8:30 a.m.
New Life Church is also accepting donations including:
- Toilet paper
- Diapers
- First aid supplies
- Feminine Hygiene
- Products
- Underwear
- Socks
- Heavy duty trash bags
- Dust masks
- 5-gallon buckets
- Shovels
- Rubber gloves
- Cleaning supplies
- Box cutters to remove drywall
- Wheelbarrows
- Hammers