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.

Volunteer

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

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.

Our Work

News & Events

Hannah & Julia Recognized at School

Hannah & Julia Recognized at School

Congratulations to two of our beautiful girls, Miss Julia and Miss Hannah! Julia received the award for Most Improved 1st Nine Weeks!! She was chosen for this award because of her hard work and for going "the extra mile!" Hannah received two awards for this past...

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Snow Tubing Trip

Snow Tubing Trip

Thanks to the Henry Schein company, our kiddos got to enjoy an entire day of snow tubing at Winterplace Ski Resort in West Virginia! It may be cold out, but that does not stop us from having fun!

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Meet Susan Huxster, Executive Director

Meet Susan Huxster, Executive Director

The Joy Ranch team is so proud to have an opportunity for you to get to know our incredible, wise, & godly Executive Director, Susan Huxster! A southerner at heart, Susan was born in Texas & raised in North Carolina in a family that instilled in her Christian...

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Latest From Tales of a Houseparent Blog

Benny Lee

Chapter 7 - BENNY LEE (Excerpt from "Feed My Lambs", the Joy Ranch story) By Mary McHenry To the beginnings of Joy Ranch belongs the story of Benny Lee (not his real name), a boy who lived through 161 visiting Sundays at the home with no visitor he could really call...

Exodus Cottage News

After twelve years of serving as houseparents at Joy Ranch, Gene & Bethany Collins are resigning from our Exodus girls' cottage. Bethany is currently dealing with some health challenges which requires them to step away from the Joy Ranch ministry.  Please pray for...

Leebrick Cottage – Words from New Houseparents

(Originally posted August 9, 2025 by Ashley Arnold) Today, our cottage doors officially opened! Houseparents… Such a simple word, but one that carries a weight only Heaven truly understands! When you open the door to a cottage like this, you’re not just stepping into...

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.

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.

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

Contact Us

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