His children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26

Our Mission

Provide a safe, caring, and Christ-centered home to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and social needs of children in crisis.

How To Help

Partner with us today! There are many ways that you can help a child in need. We accept monetary & non-monetary donations and can come speak to your organization about our mission.

Donate

Volunteer

Be a part of what is happening at Joy Ranch! There are opportunities for churches, service groups, and individuals alike.

Find Your Spot

Our Team

Our staff is more than just a group of employees: we believe that each team member is an essential part of the Joy Ranch family.

Meet Our Incredible Team

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Want to keep up with what's happening at Joy Ranch? Join our mailing list to get newsletters from us straight to your inbox.

Our Work

News & Events

Christmas at Carowinds!

by Mandy Nester | Jan 3, 2025

Thanks to a generous donor, our kids got to enjoy Winterfest at Carowinds. Take a look at some of the fun they had!

We were blessed to have several Joy Ranch Alumni visit our campus the weekend of our annual Live Nativity. Not only did they assist in setting up scenes, preparing costumes, and cleaning up after the event, but they also participated in scenes during the Nativity....

A Surprise Blessing from Our Kids

by Mandy Nester | Oct 11, 2024

What do you do when your "volunteer" Volunteer Coordinator has a broken arm? You take care of her, of course! We are so thankful to have Susan Archer as a devoted volunteer for many years. After her accidental arm breakage, our kids went to see her to cheer her up...

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Latest From Tales of a Houseparent Blog

Homeschool Fundraising Goal Met!

by Mandy Nester | August 6, 2024 | Houseparent Blog, News | 0 Comments

If you missed the opportunity to give for homeschool, you can still help by purchasing school supplies from our Amazon list! Simply click here to view the list and you can ship the items straight to us! Thank you again for your support of our kids as we transition to...

Be A Kid Again Day

by Mandy Nester | July 8, 2024 | Houseparent Blog | 0 Comments

Today is National "Be a Kid Again" day! Since our ministry revolves around kids, we thought it would be fun to ask our kids, staff, and volunteers at Joy Ranch a little about the subject. We asked our kids "What is the best thing about being an adult?" and here are...

A Problem with Sin

by Erin Austin | February 12, 2024 | Houseparent Blog | 2 Comments

I have a Golden Retriever named Lucy. Lucy is pure joy and often makes me laugh. She’s a big, intelligent goofball. I’ve had a number of dogs over the years, and Lucy is definitely the most intelligent one I’ve had. Yet for all her brilliant moments, she is still a...

Celebrating 60 Years Helping Kids in 2021.

Since opening its doors in 1961 under the direction of the Rev. Richard and Mary McHenry, Joy Ranch, has served over 5000 children and their families in crisis.

History of Joy Ranch

Faith Funded

Joy Ranch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your gifts are tax deductible. Joy Ranch is funded by faith through donations from individuals, churches and other organizations. Joy Ranch is licensed by the state of Virginia but receives no yearly-allocated state funding. We abide by the standards for membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

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About Us

Joy Ranch provides a safe, loving, and structured home for children from crisis situations. Our children have endured difficulties out of their control and need a place of refuge. We provide trauma-informed care, empowerment, and protection for all of our children in a family-style, home setting.

Phone: 276-236-5578

Find Us

813 Joy Ranch Road Woodlawn, VA 24381