Welcome to the DAC!

A unique aspect of Ferncliff is our 10,000-sq ft Disaster Assistance Center, better known as “the DAC.”

Located by the northern entrance of Ferncliff (27411 Kanis Road, Paron, Arkansas 72122), the DAC is operated through a covenant relationship with Church World Service (CWS) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). The DAC is a designated site for receiving, inspecting, building, storing, and shipping CWS Gift-of-the-Heart kits to aid in immediate/long-term disaster recovery and ongoing efforts including homelessness and immigration.

Churches & groups from all over the country can send assembled kits, kit supplies, or monetary donations to the Ferncliff DAC. There is an ever-expanding network of smaller “kit depots” in churches across the country; these depots collect kits a few times a year and coordinate deliveries to the main processing facilities in an effort to save donor groups from incurring shipping costs. Ferncliff also owns a box truck which can assist with kit collection and kit distribution within a certain radius of the Central Arkansas area.

Click here to read about the various CWS kits & view kit supply lists

Looking to volunteer?

We love to host volunteer groups of all kinds in the DAC! Volunteers help keep our operations running smoothly by inspecting and re-boxing donations, building new kits from scratch, organizing loose supplies, inventorying our kits and supplies, and preparing pallets of boxes for storage/shipment.

Groups can come for 1-4 hours to work on service projects. Many groups opt for occasional/one-time service, while others set up recurring (monthly or quarterly) volunteer days.

Groups of all ages and skill levels are welcome, though a 1:6 adult-to-youth ratio is recommended for youth groups. Up to 15 participants is ideal for a volunteer group, but we can often accommodate larger groups with plenty of notice. Our convenient location, year-round availability, and indoor space makes us ideal for church groups, youth groups, scout troops, service hours for high schoolers, and more!

We invite our volunteer groups to make a donation to our warehouse to offset our staff time and operational overhead costs. Monetary donations can be brought with your group (cash or check), or made online (please note “DAC” in the “gift instructions” box.) Alternatively, groups may collect kit supplies to donate to our inventory. Click here for a list of types of kits & the supplies we need to build them!

Email emily@ferncliff.org to inquire about volunteer opportunities at the DAC with your group.

What About Mission Teams?

Ferncliff’s Disaster Assistance Center is a PDA host site for mission teams of volunteers. We welcome mission teams of all kinds (faith-based or secular, adult or youth or mixed, 10-25 participants) to stay on site at Ferncliff and serve at the DAC, in our farmstead, with the maintenance team, and/or in the Central Arkansas area with other agencies.

Most groups stay for a week at a time and lodge in the nearby Retreat House. We can host groups year-round!

Learn More About Our Mission Program