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

Get Our Newsletter

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

Thomas Road Outpost Adventure!

by Mandy Nester | May 12, 2023

Our residents, staff, and Board of Directors enjoyed a weekend of fellowship, fun, excitement, and team building skills in April at Thomas Road Outpost in Lynchburg, VA. It was a cool, rainy weekend but the warm smiles and laughter made up for the unpleasant weather....

Boston College Volunteers are Great!

by Mandy Nester | Apr 20, 2023

We were so blessed to have a wonderful group of Boston College students again this year during their spring break in March. Our kids loved spending time with them, and the volunteers accomplished so much while they were here. Check it out! Joy Ranch won 2 out of 3...

Easter Would You Rather…

by Mandy Nester | Apr 10, 2023

Happy Easter! We enjoyed interviewing our kids about their Easter favorites and wanted to share them with you. Some were included in our newsletter (click here to read it) and some more are below. Enjoy! Cheyenne would rather... Eat a chocolate bunny rather than jelly...

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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.