Northark Help

Northark Help is a program designed to assist Northark students through benefit services. The goal is to increase student retention and completion, increase student financial stability, increase employment rates and generate a culture change. AmeriCorps Vista, AARP TaxAide, Northwest Regional Housing Authority and the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas have partnered with the college to make this program possible.

Public Benefits

Northark Help offers access to food, healthcare, tax preparation, Workforce Services, Unemployment Insurance Benefits and other services to assist students during their pursuit of higher education. Northark provides an on-campus location to aid in-person application processes for partnering agencies.

Pete's Pantry

Pete’s Pantry is a free supplemental food pantry for currently enrolled Northark students. A division of NortharkHELP, Pete’s Pantry was designed to assist students with food needs while working to further their education. The only requirement to use the pantry is that the student must be currently enrolled in classes.

Students are welcome to visit the pantry twice a month during the fall and spring semesters. Pete’s Pantry is set up on a point system. The number of people in a student’s household will determine the point total for the visit. Students will be allowed to shop through the pantry and select the food for their family.

Pete’s Pantry is located in room M171 on the South campus of North Arkansas College. To schedule an appointment to use the food pantry, email rnelson@northark.edu or call the Advising Office at 870-391-3115. You will be sent a shopping list of available choices.

Pete’s Pantry was established through the Working Student Success Network and is sustained through private donations. Through our partnership with the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, Pete’s Pantry is able to receive food on average at 10 cents per pound. While we do accept non-expired shelf life food, we ask that if you wish to donate to the pantry please make a monetary donation. To donate please call 870-391-3307 or the Northark Foundation at 870-391-3159.

SNAP Employment & Training Program

The Employment and Training Program helps Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients get a job or helps them receive education and training that can lead to a job. Program services include general education diploma (GED), independent job search, employment counseling, basic skills training, English as a Second Language, work experience, occupational skills training, post-secondary vocational training, on the job training and job club. The E&T Program will provide some travel reimbursement and certain education-related expenses. For more information or to see if you qualify for services, contact Yolande Watson at 870-391-3197 for Boone, Newton and Searcy counties and Melinda Boyer at 870-391-3518 for Carroll and Madison counties. You can also receive more information by completing our online form.

SNAP Employment & Training Program Form

Financial Coaching

Northark staff assists students in reaching their financial goals. Financial services provided by NortharkHELP include goal setting, learning to budget wisely, saving more money, building your credit, paying off debt and becoming financially stable. 

Get help from one-on-one financial coaching sessions, seminars from financial experts and free educational workshop opportunities offered through each semester. Our one-on-one coaching sessions combined with the information learned through the financial literacy course will have students eager to improve their financial situations and be better equipped for life after graduation.

Schedule an appointment with a financial coach.

Career Coaching

Career coaching is for students who wish to gain a clear picture of where they are going, improve their work satisfaction, change jobs or make a career change. Each session holds a great opportunity to explore what the future holds and set personal career goals while gaining career confidence, insight, encouragement and inspiration. The career coach will:

• Try to find out your life/work values, your purpose in life and identify careers which are aligned with this. The closer your job is to these critical values, the happier and more satisfied you will feel.
• Help you recognize what jobs you are suited for based on your talents, education, personality and ambition. These can be detected through general discussion, testing and probing questions. The best coaches are very honest and will tell you what you can aspire to and what your limitations are likely to be.
• Assist you to clarify your long term career goals and assist you to create an action plan to achieve them. This can take several sessions to complete.
• Structure your job search, help with your application documents as well as coach you to present well in job interviews.

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To learn more about career coaching opportunities at Northark or to schedule an appointment, contact Jen Harrell at 870-391-3272 or email at jen.harrell@northark.edu.

Career and Financial Literacy Training

Career and financial literacy training is provided to Northark students through course embedding, new student orientation, Go To Person Campaign, workshops, Northark welcome week, Northark website, publications and benefit agencies Northark campus location. Topics include budgeting, credit, checking and savings accounts, exploration of options for majors and resume and professionalism.

• Academic and Educational Struggles, Tutoring Needs — Sharla Hellen, (870) 391-3560, LRC, shellen@northark.edu
• Academic, Career and Financial Coaching, Education and Financial Goal Planning, Academic Advising and Transfer Advice — Advising Center (870) 391-3115, M184 or Jen Harrell, (870) 391-3272, M184E, jen.harrell@northark.edu or Rachel Nelson, (870) 391-3546, M184D, rnelson@northark.edu
• Crisis Counseling, Early Alert, Title IX, Behavioral Intervention — Doug Gere, (870) 391-3204 M184B, dgere@northark.edu
• Disability Services — Doug Gere, (870) 391-3204, dgere@northark.edu
• Help for Students with Children and Child Care Issues — Career Pathways, (870) 391-3153, M154, rmartin@northark.edu or brittany.harris@northark.edu
• Housing and Living Situation Concerns — Beverly Hefley, (870) 391-3307, Pete's Pantry M171, beverly.hefley@northark.edu
• Hunger and Food Shortage Issues, Personal Necessities — Beverly Hefley, (870) 391-3307, Pete's Pantry M171, beverly.hefley@northark.edu
• Personal Financial Concerns, Financial Coaching, Planning to Pay for Your Education — Jennifer Haddock (870) 391-3240, M186, jhaddock@northark.edu.
• Resources for Young Mothers and Children - Circle of Life, (870) 391-3506
• SNAP Employment and Training Program - Yolande Watson, (870) 391-3197, yolande.watson@northark.edu
• Transportation and Engine Trouble Issues — Beverly Hefley, (870) 391-3307, Pete's Pantry M171, beverly.hefley@northark.edu
• Unplanned Pregnancy Prevention and Care — Boone County Health Unit, (870) 743-5244, 1622 Campus Drive, Harrison, AR, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Utility Assistance Needs — Beverly Hefley, (870) 391-3307, Pete's Pantry M171, beverly.hefley@northark.edu
• Veterans Affairs — Randy Scaggs, (870) 391-3223, M184G, rscaggs@northark.edu