Catholic Charities of Arkansas serves the entire state through the Diocese of Little Rock, with refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, food assistance, and emergency financial help as its core programs. Its legal team handles some of the highest-demand immigration work in the state, including cases from the large Marshallese community around Springdale. This page explains what the agency does, how to give, and how to volunteer or ask for assistance.
Because the Diocese of Little Rock covers the whole state, this single agency is responsible for Catholic Charities programming in every Arkansas county. Its work centers on people navigating a crisis or a legal system they cannot afford to face alone: newly arrived refugees, immigrants with pending cases, and families who need groceries or one-time financial help to stay housed.
The immigration caseload reflects who actually lives and works in Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas, especially Springdale, is home to one of the largest Marshallese populations outside the Pacific Islands, and Catholic Charities provides legal and social services to that community. The state's poultry processing industry also employs many Hispanic and immigrant workers in towns such as Springdale, Batesville, and Berryville, so work authorization cases, DACA renewals, and family petitions make up much of the legal program's day-to-day work.
Food assistance and emergency financial help round out the services. Availability and intake procedures vary by program, so check ccark.org for current details before visiting.
Every dollar given through the agency's donation page supports Arkansas programs rather than a national pool. Cash gifts are the most flexible option because they can fund whichever program is under the most pressure, and immigration legal services in particular tend to be underfunded relative to demand.
If you prefer to direct your gift, the donation form and the agency's staff can point you toward specific programs such as refugee resettlement or food assistance. Recurring monthly gifts help the agency plan caseloads instead of reacting to fundraising swings.
Volunteer needs are practical rather than glamorous: food pantry operations and administrative support are the two areas where the agency consistently asks for help. You do not need legal training to be useful, though attorneys and accredited representatives interested in immigration work should reach out directly.
If you need help yourself, services are open to people of all faiths. You do not need to be Catholic, and religious participation is never a condition of assistance. Start with the contact information on the official site to reach the right program.
Confirm the organization's 501(c)(3) status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov, and look up its profile on Charity Navigator. For any single gift of $250 or more, keep the written acknowledgment the charity sends you; the IRS requires it to claim the deduction.
Sources: Catholic Charities of Arkansas official site (ccark.org); our Arkansas charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with Catholic Charities of Arkansas and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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