Project Compassion began in 1972 when Gloria White visited a friend living in a nursing home. She was stunned by the number of residents who had no visitors. It started as a one-to-one visitation program and that is still the heartbeat of the organization.
What We Do: Our mission is to bring joy, companionship, and quality of life to residents of nursing homes.
How: Over 300 volunteers provide one-to-one visits, assist with group activities such as cards, crafts, bingo, and pet and music therapies. There is never a fee for our services.
Hearts of Gold, our annual holiday gift drive, strives to provide a meaningful Christmas gifts to the residents in every facility we serve. Gift ideas include sweat suits, pajamas, socks, house shoes, etc. For many residents, especially those with no family, these may be the only new items they receive that year.
Where We Serve:
Arkansas Counties: Crawford, Franklin, Logan, and Sebastian
Oklahoma Counties: LeFlore and Sequoyah
Our Values and Beliefs
- It is easy for productive members of society to overlook nursing home residents and their basic needs.
- Society defines itself by how it cares for those who are dependent: the young, the old, and the infirm.
- The need to belong, to be of value, and to have friendship can be met by caring volunteers.
- Nursing home residents deserve respect for the contributions they have made to society and to know that their lives matter.
- No one is too young or too old to feel cared about and loved.