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

March News – Celebrating 60 Years!

by Mandy Nester | Feb 24, 2021

Sixty years have passed since Joy Ranch opened its doors to the first children. Read more about it in our newsletter. View/download page 1 and page 2. Share our news with someone!

Spotlight on Cheyenne!

by Mandy Nester | Feb 24, 2021

After taking a break on our blog for the holidays, we are back to our kid interview series. So without further ado, meet Cheyenne, our fun-loving silly girl, who regularly makes us smile. What is your favorite food?Chinese food. It was the place my mom took me for my...

Mill Creek General Store Donation

by Mandy Nester | Dec 2, 2020

What a blessing! Mill Creek General Store in Mt. Airy, NC is accepting donations for Joy Ranch through December 15 and will match up to $250. THANK YOU and please support this wonderful business that has chosen to be so generous.

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

by Erin Austin I've often said that Joy Ranch is a unicorn among children's homes. For multiple reasons, Joy Ranch doesn't fit into a mold. One of these is in the area of finances. From the beginning, the McHenrys vowed to trust God for all of their needs. "We were...

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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?

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.