Dear Friends,

I hope all is well with you and your families. At Down Home Ranch, we are taking it one day at a time. Our organization has always been unique in that we operate under a few different residential programs, each having their own distinctive regulations. On a normal day, it is challenging to ensure we are providing a high quality of life while complying with the requirements. The current situation with COVID-19 has increased those challenges as regulations continue to change daily.

The 44 residents of the Ranch continue to amaze me during this time. The way they are managing the uncertainty has been incredible. They do everything they can to maintain a sense of normalcy and be involved in all aspects of the programs. Having access to DHR's 410-acres has been valuable during this time.

As we move forward into uncharted waters, we are definitely feeling the impact. Just this week, we have had to cancel multiple retreat groups, refund lily orders for customers and just yesterday lost an order for 800 spring baskets. These unfortunate events have resulted in a loss of over $10,000 in profit for the mission. While the monetary impact is huge, what hurts even more is the ripple effect it is having on the Ranchers' vocational program. Every dollar we lose equates to a decrease in the amount of job skills training and paid employment we are able to provide.

Many of you have asked how you can help the Ranchers during this time. With all else that is going on, I'm thankful that the DHR family continues to grow stronger. To have an immediate impact on the Ranchers' quality of life, please make a financial gift that fits your ability. Every dollar you give will reverse the negative impact we are experiencing right now. Your donations will give a boost to the vocational program and allow the Ranchers uninterrupted opportunities to work and learn new job skills.

If you are able to give a gift of stability to the Ranch, we would be very grateful!

With heartfelt gratitude,
Craig Russell
Executive Director