CARE Community Center

What CARE Community Center does

CARE Community Center is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 2510 N 17th St, Suite 202, in Rogers, Arkansas, serving households across Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties in Northwest Arkansas. Its core operations center on three programs: the Root Cellar Food Pantry, which distributes groceries by appointment to households earning at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level; the CARE Community Tax Center, which provides free tax preparation through IRS-certified volunteers under the federal VITA program at both a Benton County (Rogers) and a Washington County location, supported by a mobile filing app; and the CARE for the Holidays / Toys for Tots program, which distributed gifts to 8,806 children in 2024. Annual operational metrics include 5,099 tax returns completed with $3,595,151 in refunds returned to the community in 2025, and 196,568 pounds of food distributed between January and August 2025.

The organization is funded entirely through charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community partners, plus grants from supporting organizations; all services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries. CARE is explicitly independent — 'not part of a larger organization or government agency' — and operates on a community-led go-to-market model driven by word-of-mouth, volunteer networks, and partnerships with 30+ sponsors including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Unilever, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Technology underpins scheduling and information delivery but is intentionally low-sophistication: standard web technologies, online appointment calendars, email newsletters, and a volunteer-management portal — no proprietary AI, APIs, or data platforms are referenced.

Its structure is small (11-50 employees), seasonal in its tax-center peak, and event-driven around the Thanksgiving Dinner and Annual Fishing Derby. Customer concentration on the demand side is highly diffuse — tens of thousands of low- and moderate-income households — while donor concentration rests on a diversified base of corporate, media, and nonprofit sponsors. Long-term sustainability depends on continued philanthropic inflows, volunteer capacity (especially IRS-certified preparers), and regional density in Northwest Arkansas.

Name

CARE Community Center

Legal name

CARE Community Center

Website

https://carecc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CARE Community Center is a Northwest Arkansas 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free food assistance via the Root Cellar Food Pantry, free IRS-VITA tax preparation via the CARE Tax Center, and holiday gift programs (Toys for Tots) to low- and moderate-income households across Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs (HSABANAM)

Keywords

• Food assistance programs
• Free tax preparation
• Community social services
• Holiday giving programs
• Volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Rogers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CARE Community Center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community partners, as well as grants from supporting organizations. All services are provided free of charge to the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CARE Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free food assistance through the Root Cellar Food Pantry, free IRS-certified tax preparation via the CARE Tax Center (VITA program), and holiday support programs including the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Toys for Tots. All services are provided at no cost to community members in Northwest Arkansas and are supported by donations, grants, and a network of volunteers and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

CARE Community Center operates as a community support organization offering a portfolio of free services centered around food assistance, tax preparation, and holiday support programs. The core offerings include the Root Cellar Food Pantry for food distribution and the CARE Community Tax Center for free IRS-certified tax preparation, both accessible through online appointment systems. Additional programs include the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, CARE for the Holidays & Toys for Tots gift program, and a Volunteer Hub portal for managing community involvement. The organization also provides a mobile app for tax filing and various community referral services, all designed to promote dignity, independence, and community connection for Northwest Arkansas residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Root Cellar Food Pantry: Free food pantry serving Northwest Arkansas neighbors with groceries and support services. Pantry services are available to households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• CARE Community Tax Center
• CARE for the Holidays
• Toys for Tots Northwest Arkansas Campaign

Products and services

• Root Cellar Food Pantry Free food pantry service providing groceries to neighbors in need in Northwest Arkansas. Operates by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, serving households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Visits are limited to once per calendar month with appointments required at least 3 days in advance.
• CARE Community Tax Center Free tax preparation service provided by IRS-certified volunteers through the VITA program. Offers in-person appointments at Benton County (Rogers) and Washington County locations, a mobile app for remote filing, and post-season phone assistance on Tuesdays. Targets low-to-moderate income taxpayers.
• Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Free community Thanksgiving meal served on Thanksgiving Day at Southside Church of Christ, open to everyone in Northwest Arkansas. Hosted annually with volunteer support.
• CARE for the Holidays & Toys for Tots Holiday gift program providing toys and gifts to children in need across Northwest Arkansas through the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program partnership. Supported 8,806 local children in 2024.
• CARE Tax Center Mobile App Mobile application enabling contact-free tax document submission and return preparation from home, staffed by IRS-certified volunteers. Allows remote filing for CARE Tax Center clients.
• CARE Volunteer Hub Online portal for volunteers to register, log in, access resources, and manage their involvement with CARE's various programs including tax preparation.
• Thanksgiving Food Donation Program Accepts food donations for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner, including specific items like butter, celery, onions, stuffing, rolls, potatoes, and pies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,099 tax returns completed and $3,595,151 in refunds returned to the community in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Arkansas Hunger Relief AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide hunger relief organization supporting food banks and pantries across Arkansas. Provides resources and support for the Root Cellar Food Pantry operations.
• Northwest Arkansas Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food bank providing food supplies and support for food pantry operations throughout Northwest Arkansas.
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program that trains and certifies volunteers to provide free tax preparation for low-to-moderate income taxpayers. Provides training materials, certification, and program guidelines.
• WalmartsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support and visibility for community programs.
• Toys for Tots (Marine Corps Reserve)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational toy donation program coordinated locally by CARE to distribute gifts to children in need during the holiday season. 8,806 children supported in 2024.
• Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing regulatory guidance and support for the Annual Fishing Derby event.
• Hook Line & Sinker OutdoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal outdoor recreation business sponsoring the Annual Fishing Derby event.
• Tenenbaum Recycling Group (TRG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsoring the Annual Fishing Derby event.
• Southside Church of ChristsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal church hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner event on November 27, 2025, providing venue and volunteer support for the community meal serving 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
• Coca-ColasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support for community programs.
• UnileversupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support for community programs.
• KNWAsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television news station (Channel 5) providing media coverage and community visibility.
• KFSM 5 NewssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television news station providing media coverage and community visibility.
• The Fresh MarketsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery retailer providing food donations and support for hunger relief efforts.
• The Happy Egg CosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEgg producer providing food donations for community pantry operations.
• Bansley's Berkshire Ridge FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm providing fresh produce donations for community food assistance.
• Gearhead OutfittersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional outdoor gear retailer sponsoring community events.
• Electronic ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support.
• ZebraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National hunger-relief network that includes NWA Food Bank and many CARE peer food pantries; comparable in mission scope and food distribution model, though at vastly greater scale.
• United Way of Northwest Arkansas: Regional United Way chapter that funnels donations to community programs including food and financial stability; directly comparable as a donor aggregator in the same NWA service area.
• Goodwill Industries of Arkansas: Regional Goodwill affiliate providing workforce and community support services in Arkansas; comparable as a multi-program community nonprofit with volunteer and corporate sponsor models.
• Salvation Army Northwest Arkansas: National nonprofit providing food, holiday, and emergency assistance programs; competes for similar donor dollars and serves overlapping community needs in the same geography.

Regional players

• Northwest Arkansas Food Bank: Regional food bank that supplies CARE's Root Cellar Food Pantry; directly comparable as a hunger-relief organization serving the same Northwest Arkansas geography.
• Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance: Statewide hunger-relief organization that supports CARE's food pantry operations; comparable in mission, geography, and donor-supported model.

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of Arkansas: Faith-based community services organization providing food, financial assistance, and seasonal programs in Arkansas; directly comparable multi-program community-support model.
• Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas: Regional Habitat affiliate providing community support and volunteer-driven programs; comparable nonprofit structure, volunteer model, and NWA geographic focus.
• Meals on Wheels Northwest Arkansas: Volunteer-driven meal delivery program serving seniors and at-risk individuals; comparable as a free, volunteer-staffed food assistance program serving the same regional population.

Others

• IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program: Federal program through which CARE delivers its free tax preparation services; comparable as the organizing framework and funding/training backbone for CARE Tax Center operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAREccorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV9xQBYLLEmYuTcchKTOe8w/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/CareCommunityCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/care_community_center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/care-community-center-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CARE Community Center