It was too late to help her friend when Sammy Laney found out. Her friend -- a very good friend, Deborah Murray, had once been a foster child and had survived abuse.
But she never talked about it.
Like many foster kids, Murray had tried to wall off that part of her life, but she wasn't completely successful. After Murray committed suicide in 2012, Laney knew she had to do something to help other foster kids. Thus, the DEB Project was born.
"God put it on my heart," she explained.
The name not only honors her friend, it also stands for deserving, enriched and blessed. She wants every child to know they are deserving, enriched and blessed.
Another good friend, Colleen Hendren, joined Murray in the endeavor. Hendren was running a consignment store for children's clothes in Bentonville and customers would often tell her to donate what she couldn't sell. But she didn't want to just drop it off at Goodwill. She wanted to make sure her customer's donation went to someone who could really use it. Laney knew exactly who could use it.
For years, Laney, Hendren and other friends operated out of a bonus room above Laney's garage. They had clothing stored in plastic tubs in her attic, her parent's house, and a storage building. They had so many clothes in the bonus room they were afraid the floor was about to collapse. So in April, they found a storefront.
The DEB Project thrift shop opened in the strip mall at 1140 N. Walton Blvd., in Bentonville. The shop is open to everyone. All the proceeds go back into the DEB Project to help foster children. It's a 501 (c)3.
Often foster children arrive at a new home with very little, Laney explained. If they come from a situation where drug use is suspected, they aren't allowed to bring anything with them. Foster parents get some money to help with expenses, but the checks go out only once a month and the children need help right away.
"We take things for granted like daily needs -- socks and underwear," she said. Foster kids can't do that.
The DEB Project's Five and Five program allows foster parents to pick out five tops and five pairs of pants when a child is placed in their home. In addition, the group gives them packages of new underwear and socks, a stuffed animal and a back pack. Children can always take a book too, Laney said. The local Altrusa group helps supply books.
"We love to give pajamas," Hendren said. They also supply diapers.
Some of the new items come from Walmart vendors, Laney said. They are currently looking for a vendor who can donate diapers.
There are 160 kids in foster care in Benton County and another 255 in Washington County. More than half of them were removed from homes because of substance abuse, she said.
When Laney saw the needs of some kids in the Bentonville School District, she extended her program. School counselors are welcome to come into the shop at any time and get items their students need. The counselors are often alerted to problems by teachers who notice students wearing the same clothes, day after day, or arriving on a cold morning without a coat.
A new program will help some students take part in extra-curricular activities. There is some money put aside for grants that pay for activity fees and equipment for needy Bentonville students.
They have also partnered with the Bentonville Police Shop With a Cop program. They are filling stockings for about 30 children who will take part in the program. During the annual shopping trip, the children often use their money to shop for their families, so the stockings are just for them. There's a drop box in the thrift store for small stocking stuffers, including toys, books and hygiene items.
Everyone at the DEB Project is a volunteer, Laney said. She works at the store every day without any pay. She and her volunteer staff carefully check donations for rips or stains so the kids only get the best clothing. Every child deserves that, she said.
The shop's phone number is 479-544-9397.
General News on 11/30/2016