As is the case in so many small towns all across America, Blytheville is challenged to smartly progress into the future while also being certain to preserve those elements that make the community unique. One such element is the importance of non-profit agencies to handle social issues that plague our society. Blytheville is known and can be counted on for tremendous generosity. Though its Relay for Life program, a part of the American Cancer Society, Blytheville leads the nation in funds raised per capita. Similar support is driven through the local ESA organization for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The community also supports a number of local nonprofits such as the Mississippi County Union Mission, which provides shelter and food and a path to productivity for the homeless. The Haven, a women’s shelter, houses those involved in domestic violence. Other nonprofits serve a wide variety of needs in the area, from literacy development to free medical care to educational scholarships, Blytheville works to better its people.