UIYB with Aaron Reddin, Founder of The Van

Aaron Reddin is the product of Booger Holler hillbillies coming down to the Arkansas River Valley and colliding with the Ouachita hillbillies at the foot of Danville Mountain. In his own words, Aaron "made some bad decisions" and wound up living out of his car and addicted to amphetamines at age 20. Seeking stability and discipline, he enlisted with the marines. Reddin was later discharged due to a bad knee, but he was sober and eager to help others. Aaron eventually landed in Central Arkansas, where he worked at various shelters and rehabilitation programs. Seeing people without coats and empty beds when the country is experiencing a housing crisis made Reddin realize that he could do a lot of good bringing help to people where they're at. He loaded up a vehicle with donated goods, and The Van was born. Founded in 2010, The Van is a mobile outreach program that seeks to meet the needs of unsheltered homeless in Central Arkansas. Its operations are supported by Back 5 Fields, a 10-acre farm in North Little Rock. These nonprofits are bundled under The One, Inc., which has launched further nonprofits across the state, including The Russ Bus in Russelville and Mission Machine in Searcy. Aaron lives in Little Rock with his wife and 3 old hound dogs. He battles Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in all 4 limbs and hopes to find a way to advocate for Arkansans who struggle to find or obtain treatment. He enjoys growing tomatoes and taking candid photos of his donkeys.