Friends of Library honor Carl, Tina Ward with Youngblood Award

Carl and Tina Ward of Berryville are the latest recipients of the Carla Youngblood Community Spirit Award. The Friends of the Berryville Library recently presented the award during a surprise visit to Hometown Coffee and Café on the Berryville public square.

This award, established in 2019, honors Carla Youngblood for her years of service to the community through her work at the Berryville Library. It aims to highlight others who tirelessly give their time and talent, often with little or no recognition, to make Berryville a better place to live, work or play.

Tina, Carl, Carley and Taylor Ward are no strangers to this community, as they are involved in many business, school, church and personal endeavors throughout the county. Carl began Razorblades Lawn Care in 2012. In 2019, Tina and Carl opened Shaved Ice Paradise, which they operated until 2025 with the help of their two daughters. Most recently, Tina and Carl opened Hometown Coffee and Café in 2024.

Tina and Carl have immersed themselves in supporting the community at the Café. Life Recovery Group meets every Friday night. They host Coffee with the Veterans every Monday morning. Last Christmas Eve, the Ward Family opened the doors of the Café for a free lunch, serving more than 250 people and giving out more than 60 pounds of ham.

During Halloween, the Ward Family held a grocery giveaway and gave away more than 300 free food bags, supplied by the Harvest Food Pantry. They have also been instrumental in the Arkansas Hospice Angel Tree program, where Christmas gifts are given to hospice patients.

Tina and Carl Ward are always willing and ready to drop whatever they are doing and help wherever they can. To them, Hometown Coffee and Café is more than a business. They see it as a ministry. Their staff all know the company mission: “To love God and love people, because that is what we are called to do!” In the Café, there is even a prayer request wall.

Carl, a native of Berryville, and Tina, who moved to the area in 2000 from Benton, have raised two very motivated and successful daughters. The Ward family is very involved in The Harvest Church in Oak Grove. They love spending time with family and going to the beach for vacation. They are also the proud dog parents of Rusty and Roscoe, whom they both adore.

According to Friends President Elaine Floyd: “We wanted to publicly thank Tina and Carl and their two daughters for their unwavering dedication to serving the community and extending a hand to those in need. The Wards have always been supportive of our library, and we are honored to turn a spotlight on them for all they have done to make our town and our county a better place for all.”

Tina and Carl Ward will be recognized on the Carla Youngblood Award perpetual plaque, which hangs in the library. Additionally, they were presented with a framed certificate and a $100 donation to a nonprofit of their choice.

If you know someone who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make Berryville a better place, or if you would like to become a member of the Friends of the Berryville Library, contact the library at 870423-2323 or visit the library at 104 Spring St. in Berryville.