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

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...

Yard Sale – April 15, 2023

by Mandy Nester | Apr 4, 2023

Come one, come all to our Joy Ranch yard sale in our gym - rain or shine! Saturday, April 15 starting at 8 am until noon. All kinds of furniture, home decor, horse saddles, tack, and more! Don't miss it and be sure to tell your friends!

Questions with Chloe

by Erin Austin | Apr 4, 2023

What is your favorite food? Cheesy pizza pasta What is your least favorite food? Squash, specifically yellow squash. The texture is slimy and blah! What is your favorite game? Pokémon (the video game) What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite animal...

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Latest From Tales of a Houseparent Blog

A Homeless Boy

by Erin Austin | July 1, 2025 | All, Feed My Lambs, Houseparent Blog, News | 0 Comments

Blog by Erin Austin Working with traumatized, abused children is one of the hardest things a person can do. It is heartbreaking, exhausting, and at times, intense. It is not easy. The things we hear and see are mind-boggling. A well-meaning person once told me after I...

Footsteps

by Erin Austin | June 12, 2025 | Feed My Lambs, Houseparent Blog | 0 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories. How did they get to this point in life? What happened in their past? Who helped mold and shape them into the person they are today? What is their story?

The Teacher is the Student

by Mandy Nester | January 28, 2025 | Houseparent Blog | 2 Comments

Learning is a beautiful blessing, isn’t it? Even as a 42-year-old homeschooling mom of three boys, there are still so many things to learn in life. Each day, I start my morning reading from the best book that was ever written, the Holy Bible. The Word teaches me so...

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.