Stories
30th Anniversary Feature: Meet Founding Volunteer, Anita Blanton
30 Years of Goodness: A Look Back at Our Beginnings
Long before Goodness Village became a haven of rest and recovery for families seeking medical treatment in Little Rock, two women—Anita Blanton and Carolyn Johnson—found themselves in the same place: hospital waiting rooms, sitting long hours with their ailing parents. As they watched other families navigate not only illness but also the stress of finding a place to stay, a shared calling began to take shape.
When Anita and Carolyn met, something clicked. Carolyn had the vision—and the courage to sign the lease on the very first apartment. Anita, along with her husband Michael and members of the Little Rock Church, jumped in to help. Together, they transformed that empty apartment into a warm, welcoming space for a family who had traveled across the country for care.
In this special 30th anniversary feature, founding volunteer Anita Blanton reflects on those early days—and the incredible joy of watching one small apartment grow into a thriving community that continues to keep families together when they need it most.
