This is Roger’s story

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Roger and his little brother came to live at the Ranch in 1977. In fact, they were our very first two Ranchers. Roger’s dad was a disabled Veteran and had been admitted to a nursing home. They had been living with their Mom.

At ages 7 and 5, Roger and his little brother had very little parental supervision. They would often miss school. Roger said his mom was “not the mother she should have been.”

Missing school meant missing meals, since school was where they would usually eat. Often they didn’t have anything to eat for days at a time.

They were hungry and afraid. They had no other family and had to fend for themselves because of their mother’s neglect.

This was their unfortunate story before Sheriff Ed Hall learned of their situation. Sheriff Hall was one of the founding Sheriffs of the Ranch and knew this would be the perfect home for Roger and his little brother.

Thanks to the Sheriffs of Arkansas and other supporters, Roger received a second chance at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. We are humbled to see lives like Roger’s transformed at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. Join others in supporting children like Roger by making a gift today.

Meeting the Growing Need

88The reason we continue telling this story today is because each year hundreds of children in Arkansas right now who have been abandoned, neglected, abused – much like Roger. You may have even heard about Arkansas’s foster care crisis in the news. The need for more safe, stable and loving homes for Arkansas children is as great today as it has ever been.

These children are why the Ranch recently opened a new cottage to meet this need. And if you’re reading this story, we still need your support! You can help give more children like Roger a second chance at childhood with a gift to the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches.

We need to raise annual funds to operate all of our cottages, stock our pantries, and make each house a loving supportive home. We make sure that all of our Ranch boys and girls has clothes and shoes, school supplies, age appropriate toys, and everything you would want to raise your own child. You can help by making a one-time gift or setting up an automatic monthly contribution.

Roger’s second chance

14671138_10154091068883775_7408881461558053027_nThe Ranch gave Roger a second chance to be a child and grow into a responsible adult. Here is a photo of Roger with his family at the Ranch’s 40th Anniversary Party. He is now married to his high school sweetheart, and they have two lovely children. He travels the globe as a business solutions architect for Tyson Foods, a Fortune 100 company. Roger has even now joined the Ranch’s Board of Trustees to help move the Ranch forward into its next 40 years!

Roger’s story is a testament to second chances that can happen when we work together to make sure every child has a stable and loving home. Roger and his brother grew up at the Ranch and were given the opportunity to thrive thanks to friends like you and the Sheriffs of Arkansas.

The Ranch changes lives

While we would like to believe Roger’s story is an isolated case, unfortunately it is not. Many Arkansas children go to bed hungry each night due to neglect, while others continue to live in an abusive home. You can help the Ranch continue supporting children by making a one-time gift or setting up an automatic monthly contribution.

Because the Ranch is almost entirely funded through charitable contributions, supporters like you have kept the dream alive of Arkansas sheriffs to provide safe, stable homes for children in need. And thanks to that partnership, the Ranches have been home to more than 2,100 boys and girls since 1976.

The greatest gift you can give a child is a life free from hunger, neglect, and abuse. And even a small gift can help a lot! An easy, affordable way to give is by selecting the monthly option when making your donation. A gift of $25 per month is just .83 cents a day (less than the cost of a bottle of water), but it can truly change the life of a child. Click here to make a one-time or monthly gift today.

Thank you for considering a generous gift to help change the life of a child like Roger.

Thankfully,
Nancy Fulton, Chief Executive Officer

PS, Read Roger’s letter below. Many children who come to the Ranches have a similar story. Your support of the Ranch gives these children a second chance to thrive in a safe, healthy and loving home.

 

ROGER’S LETTER

Dear Nancy,

I’m happy to share my story. Without the Ranch, my life – and my brother’s – could have been tragically different.

My brother and I were basically raised by a single mom since our father was a disabled Veteran living in a nursing home.

Our mom was not the mother she should have been. We didn’t get food on a regular basis and were left to our own devices. As children, ages 5 and 7 we were running around footloose in Augusta, Arkansas.

We would often miss school, which meant we might not eat for a day or two at a time. Our clothes were whatever we decided to wear and often were not clean. We were not taught hygiene at all.

Thankfully, Sheriff Ed Hall one of the founders of the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches learned about our situation and brought us to the Ranch.

With the lack of understanding about hygiene, a hot shower and a toothbrush at the Ranch were new ideas! When we first came to the Ranch I had scars. I had to explain to kids these were caused by a negligent mother. This was embarrassing. In short I guess it is a miracle that we survived long enough to even make it to the Ranch.

The Ranch quickly became home. One of the best parts about being at the Ranch was having structure. Just knowing that we would have 3 meals a day and clean clothes to wear was great!

And, for the first time I actually got to be a kid! Up until this time, my life had been about taking care of my younger brother.

When I think about the people who had the greatest impact on my life, I think about my house parents Rick and Cheyenne Ingram. All the house parents really care about the kids and are always available to the Ranchers. I can’t thank the Ranch enough for helping make me the man I am today.

I am thankful I have a great job with Tyson Foods as Business Solutions Architect working around the world. I am confident that one of the reasons I have been successful at Tyson is because of the work ethic instilled at the Ranch. Having chores, responsibilities and learning to set goals were key components. I learned that life is not free and a person must work hard to accomplish their goals.

Nancy, please use my story to help your supporters understand the importance of their gifts to the Ranch. There are thousands of children just like my brother and me that could end up in trouble – on drugs or even worse.

The Ranch is a place of restoration, a safe place where kids get a chance to be kids and grow into responsible adults. I know that it takes a lot of prayers and financial support to keep the Ranch running and support this new cottage so more children can be rescued. Anything I can do to help encourage giving, I am happy to do.

The Ranch truly saved my life. I want other children to have this same opportunity.

Roger Wright

98A monthly contribution of just $25 can provide a lot of “firsts” for our kids!

•  The first birthday party they’ve ever had
•  The first pair of new shoes that aren’t “hand-me-downs”
•  The first ever monthly allowance that will help teach responsibility
•  Feed for the first animal a child has ever taken care of
•  A cap and gown for a family’s first high school graduate

You can help a child celebrate a lot of “firsts” at the Ranch. Click here to make a one-time or monthly gift.