Room 29:11 creates space for dignity, connection, and community-led support in Conway County
Tucked behind Morrilton First United Methodist Church is a small house whose name is inspired by the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, which speaks of God’s plans to care for people and give them hope for the future. And the work of local volunteers is bringing that message of care and hope into real, tangible support.
The “promise house” is intentionally warm and welcoming. Each room is thoughtfully arranged to preserve dignity and offer comfort. It’s a place where kids can visit siblings in a calm setting; where families can shop for clothing that fits and feels good; and where a child arriving with little more than what they’re wearing can take a bath, put on clean pajamas, and sleep in a bed that feels like home.
The work began with a small group of people who recognized a gap and chose to fill it. While other organizations supported foster families, few provided ongoing care for guardianship families. These families encompass grandparents, aunts, uncles, or extended kin raising children without stipends, legal resources, or formal systems of support. Room 29:11 stepped in to meet those needs with empathy and intention.
One of the leaders involved in growing the effort is Kaila Parker, who was introduced to the work through her involvement with Excel by Eight in Conway County. She’s since played multiple roles in the space, and her background as a lactation consultant and dietitian reflects the holistic lens she brings to family well-being.
“The most important thing was that it be a welcoming space,” she shared during a recent site visit at the Spring 2025 Learning Community. “We wanted families to feel like they belonged here and that this was a place they were meant to be, not a place of last resort.”
The house is more than a supply closet; it hosts supervised visits in a home-like setting. Otherwise, visits often take place in state agency offices or makeshift spaces in the community that may lack privacy or comfort. At Room 29:11, kids are greeted warmly and even have the chance to pick out their own clothes, a small act that restores a sense of agency. The house also functions as a hub for local referrals, volunteer engagement, and even short-term solutions for families on the brink.
Though the approach is deeply personal, its implications are structural. Teachers and school staff often help connect families to the house. Caseworkers call when a child needs essentials that can’t wait. Volunteers, funders, and even local students step in to keep the space organized and responsive. The model reveals what’s possible when relationships are at the center of support.
Room 29:11 is a reminder that family engagement starts with meeting people where they are. In Conway County, it looks like a quiet house with clean clothes, safe spaces, open shelves for choice, and a welcoming door for any caregiver doing the hard but fulfilling work of raising a child.
