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About Us

About Us

Our Mission Is to Serve, Support, and Strengthen Lives

  • Hope · Support · Dignity

How Jackson House Began

In 1975, Reverend Harry Woodall envisioned a place where individuals and families facing hardship could find comfort, support, and hope. Inspired by that mission, he purchased the Doherty House and established a crisis center dedicated to providing short-term emergency assistance to those in need.

In honor of a beloved local volunteer whose compassion and service made a lasting impact on the community, he named the center the Eleanor Klugh Jackson House. Today, it is affectionately known throughout the community simply as “Jackson House”.

  • Our Purpose

Compassion, Unconditional Acceptance, Collaboration and Integrity

Compassion

We lead with empathy, treating every individual with kindness, patience, and understanding.

Unconditional Acceptance

We serve all individuals with compassion and respect, free from judgment, discrimination, or bias.

Collaboration

We work alongside our community and depend on the generosity of donors and volunteers to help strengthen the support system for individuals and families in crisis.

Integrity

We manage our resources responsibly and remain committed to transparency and accountability in all that we do.

Every Donation Helps Change a Life Today

Jackson House relies on the generosity of people like you to provide crisis support, counseling, and essential resources to individuals in need. Your donation helps restore hope and stability when it is needed most.

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  • Our Leadership

Leadership / key people

Janie Smith

Executive Director for over 26 years
Email: jsmith@jacksonhouse.org

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Cherysh Lowe

Assistant Director
Email: clowe@jacksonhouse.org

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Michael Giberti

Director of Marketing & Community Engagement
Email: mgiberti@jacksonhouse.org

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Janie Smith

Executive Director for over 26 years
Email: jsmith@jacksonhouse.org

Cherysh Lowe

Assistant Director
Email: clowe@jacksonhouse.org

Michael Giberti

Director of Marketing and Community Engagement
Email: mgiberti@jacksonhouse.org

Janie Smith

Executive Director for over 26 years
Email: jsmith@jacksonhouse.org

Cherysh Lowe

Assistant Director
Email: clowe@jacksonhouse.org

Suzanne Babbie

Volunteer & Administrative Coordinator

Patsy Ware

Supervisor, Thrift Shop

John Healy

Kitchen/Pantry Supervisor

Why Our Work Matters

Every crisis tells a human story — a moment when someone needs understanding, guidance, and hope.

Jackson House exists because crises do not happen on a schedule. Individuals and families often face overwhelming circumstances without access to immediate support. Through counseling, careful evaluation, and community partnerships, Jackson House provides a safe place where people can be heard, supported, and empowered.

Our work matters because behind every conversation is a life being strengthened, a family being restored, and a community becoming more compassionate.

With the support of volunteers and donors, Jackson House continues to stand as a beacon of hope for those navigating life’s most difficult moments.

Janie Woodall Smith- Executive Director

Janie Woodall Smith has dedicated her life and career to community service, nonprofit leadership, and outreach efforts throughout Hot Springs and Garland County. A graduate of Hot Springs High School and Ouachita Baptist University, with additional studies completed at the University of Arkansas, she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Psychology and Sociology. Throughout her professional journey, Janie has served in numerous leadership roles within human service organizations committed to improving the lives of individuals and families in need.

Her career included serving as Assistant Director at Abilities Unlimited, followed by roles as Case Manager and Housing Director for the Organization for Behavioral Health and Wellness (OBHAW). Janie later became the youngest director in the state at the Monroe County Human Development Center, where she worked closely with legislators to strengthen policies and laws impacting children and adults with disabilities. During her leadership, the center experienced significant growth in both programs and services.

Janie also served as Director of Laubach Literacy before becoming Executive Director of Jackson House. Under her leadership, Jackson House expanded its community outreach, volunteer programs, grant opportunities, and collaborative partnerships to better serve the increasing needs of the region. She implemented grant-writing initiatives that helped broaden available services and developed partnerships with colleges, courts, workforce agencies, schools, AARP, and other organizations to create opportunities for internships, volunteer service, and workforce training.

In addition, Janie played a key role in the Project Hope County initiative focused on strengthening community health and support systems. She authored the grant that established the Project Hope Foodbank and recruited Ted Thompson as its founding director. His leadership and dedication left a lasting impact on the organization, where Janie continues to serve as a board member today.

Through her work with Jackson House, Janie collaborates closely with FEMA, OEM, the Red Cross, and other local agencies during disasters and emergencies to help meet critical community needs. She is also a former member of Rotary, Kiwanis, and Business and Professional Women.

Janie and her husband, Doyle Smith Jr., are proud parents to their two children, Doyle III and Rhiannon

Cherysh Lowe- Assistant Director

Cherysh is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she studied psychology and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and sociology. She is passionate about understanding the social and systemic factors that influence crisis, resilience, and human behavior. Her work is rooted in empathy, research-driven insight, critical thinking, and a strong commitment to supporting individuals and communities in meaningful and lasting ways. She hopes to continue her education in the future by pursuing a master’s degree.

She brings a well-rounded background in leadership, research, and mentorship. While working her way through college, Cherysh spent six years with Harps Food Stores, where she advanced into leadership positions including Assistant Grocery Manager and Grocery Manager. Throughout her time there, she became known for her calm, solutions-oriented leadership style, strong communication skills, and dedication to mentoring and supporting others in their professional growth.

In addition to her professional experience, Cherysh served as an Honors Peer Mentor, helping students navigate both academic and personal challenges while building confidence, connection, and support. Her academic and research experience includes an internship with the Terrorism Research Center, where she examined topics related to extremism, crisis, and social systems. She also served as a Research Assistant in the Law and Memory Processing Lab, contributing to research focused on cognition, memory, and human behavior.

Cherysh is especially passionate about her work at Jackson House, where she finds purpose in supporting individuals experiencing crisis and helping provide a safe, compassionate environment centered on healing and stability. She is deeply committed to treating every individual with empathy, understanding, and respect during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Across every role she has held, Cherysh is recognized for her empathy, professionalism, and ability to connect with people from all backgrounds. She values active listening, thoughtful problem-solving, and fostering environments where individuals feel genuinely supported and heard.

She is also an active member of the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club, where she enjoys participating in community service initiatives and connecting with fellow leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact.

Michael Giberti - Director of Marketing, Community Engagement and Outreach

Before joining Jackson House, Michael built a successful career leading high impact sales, marketing, and client engagement strategies across national media, digital advertising, and community focused industries. He held senior leadership roles with organizations including Mspark, Vivial, The Denver Post, and The Colorado Springs Gazette where he consistently drove revenue growth, developed data driven marketing solutions, and strengthened long term client relationships. Michaels professional background also includes executive leadership and hands on experience as a small business co-owner, giving him a unique blend of strategic insight, operational understanding, and people first communication. Known for his emotional intelligence, storytelling, and ability to build trust quickly, he developed a reputation as a connector who brings teams, clients, and communities together around shared goals. At Jackson House, Michael combines communication, outreach, and community gatemen with a deep passion for serving others. He is committed to helping volunteers, donors, and community partners feel genuinely connected to the organizations mission while supporting individuals and families facing crisis and hardship. “What I love most about Jackson House is that every day brings a new opportunity to show up for someone who needs support, dignity, or simply a kind voice. No two days are ever the same, and that’s what fuels me. Jackson House is more than a job to me, it’s a place where purpose meets action, and I’m grateful every day to be part of the impact we create in Hot Springs and beyond.”

Emergency Assistance & Community Support at Jackson House

At Jackson House Crisis Intervention, we are a short-term emergency assistance crisis center dedicated to helping individuals and families during difficult times. We primarily provide food assistance once every six months, along with clothing, housewares, and hygiene kits every three months. In certain emergency situations, we may also provide what we call an “emergency box,” which contains smaller amounts of essential items for those facing immediate hardship.

Because we are not funded by the government or the city, our resources are limited, and we are only able to provide assistance to community members in need every six months. However, thanks to the incredible generosity of our local donors and volunteers, we are also able to offer many additional forms of support that we do not widely advertise.

Our mission is simple: to be an accepting and empathetic place the community can come to for help when in crisis and to provide hope, dignity, and compassion to neighbors in need when they need it most.

We serve individuals and families residing in Garland County who have lived in the county for at least six months. Clients are required to provide a local photo ID if they are already in our system. If they are not currently in our system, they must provide either a local photo ID or a bill or piece of mail showing a local address if they do not yet have a local ID.

Applicants must also provide their Social Security number, a DHS referral, or proof of SNAP benefits. If they would like to add household members to their case, such as a spouse or children, they must provide birth certificates or documentation proving legal custody of the child. If a birth certificate is unavailable, we may accept alternative documents such as doctor’s notes, school counselor documentation, or court records showing custody.