Two more days, and there are still so many things we’d love to share with everyone about what God has been doing at the ranch in 2022! Since today is the last day of the Thanksgiving weekend, we’ll take that theme and run with it, by telling you how thankful we are for the MANY folks who helped build, grow, maintain, and share the ranch with everyone who came out in 2022.
Did you know that Mercy Spring Ranch is completely funded by donations, grants, and fundraisers? Because of this, every family who comes to the ranch for sessions is able to come free of charge. Did you also know that there are no paid staff? That’s right, every person working to make things run smoothly, AND move forward, at the ranch is a volunteer, including our founders. The theme of our #GivingTuesday 2022 is: “Every person has the power to change the world. Work hard. Be kind. Do good.” That theme is lived out here at the ranch, in a thousand ways, by the army of people who sacrifice their time, talents, and treasure to make what we do here possible. Here are just a few examples from this year:
- Our session leaders and session greeters (Also called “Ranch Staff”) held a total of 158 sessions between April and October.
- In organized volunteer groups alone, like REACH, River Oak Grace Youth, 4-H, the Tomato Tasting Crew, and others, over 205 volunteers worked on projects throughout the facility.
- Children from the River Oak Grace Community Church VBS raised over $2300 for the ranch, paying for all the materials for our new entrance sign, AND the new plumbing installed in the shop kitchenette, and bathroom, for our staff.
- John Schaapmann, a local metal fabricator, donated his time to make the ranch’s entrance sign, and install it.
- Our Poop Patrol team comes continuously throughout the week, to clean paddocks, and help with projects.
- One very kind lady, Sandy, hits up thrift stores and sales any time we share a need for items, and leaves what she finds on our doorstep. This past spring, she gathered a literal truck load of comforters, and blankets, to cover our greenhouses when an unexpected week of freezing temperatures threatened our heirloom seedlings. She also collected mattress covers, many of them brand new, to cover our tender, young citrus trees. Not only that, but Sandy collected dozens of pairs of boots to add to those the children wear during sessions. Many of those were brand new, as well!
- Our farrier, Jasper, who keeps our horse’s feet healthy and trimmed, was also able to get our horse, Ladyhawke, sound and comfortable again after she was diagnosed with ringbone in the spring.
- The owners of Parks Wholesale Nursery have donated hundreds of trees and shrubs, and have discounted many others, to help us turn the ranch into a beautiful and peaceful place.
- Our Board of Directors, and Officers, who sit through long meetings to help advise and keep us on track.
- Those who donate to the ranch monthly. Their contributions are often the ones that “keep the lights on” when funding is scarce.
- Our personal shopper, Holly, who scours sites like Facebook Marketplace and Offer-Up for specific items we need, at screaming deals. Have you gotten to sit at one of our tables in the shade? You can thank Holly for that!
- John’s Intern, Caden, and Monique’s LEAD girls, Alathea, and Petra, who put in countless hours helping with events and special projects throughout the year.
- Trusts like LAMBS and others who donated funds in the past year that helped us complete big, hairy projects like 1000’ of waterline and planting of the hay field in Alfalfa.
- The hard-core, show up every time, strengthen your knees when they give way friends, like Tami, Jennifer, Lisa and Hillari, who give of themselves over and over again, with little public recognition.
- The individual volunteers who show up on volunteer workdays to help with the garden. Because of them, we were able to distribute almost a 1000lbs. of produce to our ranch families and volunteers this year! They also made it possible for us to hold our first Heirloom Tomato Tasting at the new facility, offering over 40 varieties of tomatoes for people to taste.
- The two sisters, Ellie and Avery, who raised over $300 for the ranch from their yard sale lemonade stand.
- Every person that purchased plants during our spring heirloom plant sales, and those who said, “Keep the change.”
- Every single person who sent what they could, when they could, to support what we do here. Every single gift is truly a cherished answer to prayer.
To these and others, we are so incredibly grateful! If you have been a part of this wonderful “village” over the past year, and the years leading up to this, we say a heartfelt “THANK YOU!” When you look at the thousands of photos we post throughout the year, know that you have taken part in being the hands and feet of Jesus to all who enter our gates. Your support, encouragement and hard work help us to continue offering hope and a place to belong to those who come.
If you’re reading this and the Lord is tugging at your heart to get involved, listen to Him! Reach out and let us know how you’d like to join in. We’d love to add you to this amazing story that God is writing!
If you’d like to support MSR during Giving Tuesday, by volunteering, supporting one of our horses, or financially supporting our program, click here for more information.
