St. Bartholomew's ChurchSt. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Fort Smith, AR

On this Page

• Food Pantry
• St. Bart's Children's Summer Program
• Blessing Box
• Little Library
• Sack Lunch Program
• Girls Education Matters
• Next Step Homeless Services
• Blessing of the Animals
• Blessing of the Badges
• Trunk or Treat
• LGBTQ+ Support Group
• A String Fort Smith

Food Pantry

Our food pantry serves as a vital resource for families in need within our immediate Arkansas counties (in accordance with the guidelines established by the River Valley Regional Food Bank). Each week, a dedicated volunteer team prepares bags containing a variety of nutritious grocery staples and frozen meats. These bags are distributed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

📅 Hours & Appointments

• Open: Wednesdays & Thursdays • 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
• By Appointment Only: Call 479-783-2101

✅ Requirements

• Valid photo ID
• Basic family information recorded in our secure system
• Service limited to once every 6 weeks (exceptions for emergencies)

Our goal is to offer consistent, compassionate support to help ease the burden of food insecurity in our community.

St. Bart's Children's Summer Program

Every summer, St. Bart’s hosts a vibrant, tuition-based program open to all children in the community — not just those within our church family. The program employs licensed teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff from the River Valley, ensuring a high-quality, engaging experience for every participant.

Each year, activities and lessons are built around an exciting theme:

• 2024: The Olympics — Classrooms became “teams” that competed in fun challenges throughout the summer.
• 2025: Time Travel — Students explored history from the age of dinosaurs to modern day, completing hands-on projects for each era.

The program serves children from preschool through grade 6 and operates under its own budget and staffing, while being endorsed by the church. Our goal is to provide a safe, enriching environment where children can learn, create, and make lasting friendships during their summer break.

Our Blessings Box

Located next to our driveway off Old Greenwood Road, our red-and-blue Blessings Box is here for the whole community — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This little box is stocked by caring neighbors, and sometimes by our food pantry when we have extra items to share. Everything inside is free, with no sign-up and no questions asked.

How It Works

• Take what you need — please be mindful that others may also be in need.
• Give what you can — if you have extra non-perishable food at home, feel free to drop it off anytime.
• Close the doors — help protect the contents (and the box itself) from weather and pests.

A Few Friendly Reminders

• Most items come directly from community members, not the church.
• We do our best to check what’s inside, but please inspect all food before consuming.
• Donations should be non-perishable items only to keep things safe and fresh.

Whether you’re picking something up or dropping something off, thank you for helping us keep the Blessings Box a place of kindness and care for our neighbors.

Little Free Library

Our Little Free Library is located next to our driveway off Old Greenwood Road and is available 24/7. This small blue box sits directly beside the driveway, facing Old Greenwood Road.

Inside, you’ll find a regularly updated selection of both fiction and non-fiction books. The collection is cared for by a dedicated church volunteer, and every book has been generously donated for the community to enjoy. While some are religious titles, most range from English classics to modern novels — what you find depends on the day!

How It Works

• Take a book — enjoy it at your own pace.
• Return a book — when you’re finished, bring it back so someone else can enjoy it.
• Share your books — if you have books you no longer need, feel free to add them to the library.
• Keep the door closed — to protect the books from rain and pests, especially since the box faces west and is exposed to wind-driven rain.

Whether you’re picking up your next great read or sharing one of your favorites, thank you for helping us keep the Little Free Library a place of joy and connection for the community.

Sack Lunch Program

The Sack Lunch Program was founded in downtown Fort Smith in 1986 as a ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. This all-volunteer program is dedicated to providing reliable, barrier-free, and nutritious meals to anyone facing hunger or food insecurity in the greater Fort Smith area.

St. Bartholomew’s has a small group of volunteers who dedicate their time 1–2 days each month to help prepare and distribute sack lunches to those in need. The program operates from a walk-up window at 317 N F Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901.

How It Works

• Walk-up service — anyone in need is welcome to stop by during operating hours.
• Nutritious lunches — each sack contains a sandwich, bottled water, and additional snacks such as granola bars, chips, or cookies, depending on the day.
• For all ages — sack lunches are also available for children.

Through this partnership, our volunteers help extend compassion and nourishment to our neighbors, one lunch at a time.

Girls Education Matters (G.E.M.)

St. Bartholomew’s partners with other churches in the River Valley to support scholarships for girls’ education in Guatemala. The program began in 2013, founded by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith. Working with Colegio San Benito (Spanish language site), a Benedictine school in Esquipulas, Guatemala, the G.E.M. (Girls’ Education Matters) program has been a mutually enriching teaching and learning experience for all involved.

The focus of the scholarship program is to provide quality education for girls from families living in material poverty. As Father Hugo Lopez, OSB, has stated: “Inspired by the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, students at San Benito can become the future actors of positive change for the country and undertake the struggle against poverty, marginalization, and indifference.”

How It Works

• Scholarships for girls — funds go directly to support students at Colegio San Benito in Guatemala.
• Annual Fiesta of Solidarity — each fall, the Sisters of St. Scholastica host an evening with food, fellowship, door prizes, silent auctions, and live music from the Subiaco Academy Jazz Ensemble, in partnership with Christ the King Catholic Parish.
• Ongoing support — St. Bartholomew’s collects monetary donations throughout the year and typically purchases two tables for our members to attend the fiesta.

If you are interested in donating to this cause, please contact the church office. Every penny collected goes directly to the scholarship fund to help provide education and hope for girls in Guatemala.

Next Step Homeless Services

St. Bartholomew’s regularly partners with Next Step Homeless Services, located in downtown Fort Smith at 123 N 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901. Next Step serves the unhoused community by offering a variety of resources, with a primary focus on operating a day room — a safe space where individuals can come indoors to escape the cold, heat, wind, and rain.

In addition to the day room, Next Step provides a range of services including individual case management, hot lunches, job counseling, psychological assessments, life-skills training, bicycle rentals, phone and mail services, budgeting classes, anger management classes, and assistance with affordable housing searches.

How It Works

• Day room access — open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Anyone on the property after hours is considered trespassing.
• Supportive services — from job counseling to life-skills training, Next Step helps individuals work toward stability and independence.
• Housing assistance — includes transitional housing options, with plans to expand availability in the future.

St. Bartholomew’s has supported Next Step by preparing meals for the day room and providing financial assistance to help sustain their programs. If you are interested in making a financial donation to help end homelessness in our community, please contact the church office.

The Blessing of the Animals

Each year, on the Saturday closest to the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4), St. Bartholomew’s partners with St. John’s Episcopal Church to host the Blessing of the Animals. Saint Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals, had a deep love for all of God’s creation, and this tradition celebrates that love.

On this special Saturday, members from both congregations gather outdoors with their animals for a joyful service where clergy from both churches bless every animal in attendance. Over the years, blessings have been given to police K9s, search and rescue dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, rats, snakes, and many more. Each animal not only receives a blessing, but also a treat and a St. Francis medallion to attach to their collar.

How It Works

• Bring your animals — all well-behaved pets are welcome. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals.
• Special accommodations — if your pet is uncomfortable in public, bring a photo to be blessed or leave them in your air-conditioned vehicle, and a clergy member will come to them.
• Outdoor gathering — enjoy a relaxed, friendly environment that celebrates the bond between people and animals.

This event is a joyful reminder that all creatures are part of God’s creation and worthy of love, care, and blessing.

The Blessing of the Badges

Each year, St. Bartholomew’s comes together with members of our first responder community to bless their badges as a sign of support, gratitude, and prayer for their service. This simple but meaningful tradition invites all who serve to receive a blessing for the work they do in protecting and caring for others.

First responders are invited to come to the church for a brief service, during which a clergy member will bless their badge. This event is open to all — regardless of religious affiliation — including police officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, and members of the military. If you wear a badge and would like it blessed, you are welcome.

How It Works

• All first responders welcome — Police, Sheriff’s Deputies, Fire, EMS, and Military, regardless of faith background.
• Short service — simply arrive at the church at the scheduled time for a brief blessing.
• No prerequisites — if you wear a badge and wish to have it blessed, just show up.

This annual tradition is our way of honoring and uplifting those who dedicate their lives to the safety and service of our community.

Trunk or Treat

On the Saturday closest to Halloween (October 31st), St. Bartholomew’s hosts a fun and festive Trunk or Treat event in our back parking lot and inside the church. Started in 2021 as an outreach for the children of our congregation, this event has grown every year and now includes members of the wider community.

We have decorated trunks and interior rooms, all prepared by church members and community volunteers. Guests can enjoy a movie shown either on our inflatable screen outside or inside the parish hall, depending on the weather. Along with plenty of candy, we serve hot chocolate and popcorn to keep everyone cozy and happy.

How It Works

• Decorated trunks and rooms — enjoy creative setups from our members and community friends.
• Family-friendly movie — shown outdoors or indoors, weather permitting.
• Snacks and treats — candy, hot chocolate, and popcorn for all attendees.
• Safety first — contract security is provided by the Fort Smith Police Department to ensure a safe, fun environment.

We look forward to welcoming everyone for a night of fun, fellowship, and safe trick-or-treating!

LGBTQ+ Support Group

The LGBTQ+ Support Group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the parish hall. These meetings are open to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, including allies, and provide a welcoming and safe space for connection and conversation.

Currently, meetings focus on general discussions, with plans to include guest speakers in the future. Refreshments such as soda, water, and chips are served at every gathering.

While the group is supported by St. Bartholomew’s, it is not a religious group or official ministry of the church. The church provides the meeting space and some limited financial assistance, but the group extends far beyond the church walls and welcomes everyone.

How It Works

• Monthly meetings — held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the parish hall.
• Open and inclusive — open to LGBTQ+ community members and allies alike.
• Casual discussions — general conversation now, with plans for guest speakers in the future.
• Refreshments provided — soda, water, and chips served at each meeting.

Everyone is welcome to join this supportive and affirming community gathering.

A String Fort Smith

A String Fort Smith is a local group of talented young musicians founded in 2020. They provide advanced performing opportunities for high school to college-aged students pursuing careers in the performing arts.

The ensemble rehearses weekly on Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and performs concerts twice a year in our nave. St. Bartholomew’s generously provides rehearsal and concert space free of charge, and in return, the group shares special music during certain holiday services.

How It Works

• Weekly rehearsals — Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church (not open to the public).
• Concerts — two performances annually in the church nave.
• Facility partnership — the group uses church facilities free of charge and provides music for holiday services.