Turnaround Ranch Receives Christmas Donation

The kids at Turnaround Ranch will be having a merrier Christmas this year because of a generous $7,500 donation from Big Brothers. Big Brothers, not to be confused with the national organization, are the original founders of Turnaround Ranch before they became a division of the Ozark Center. Charlie King has served on the Board id Directors for about 60 years. He tells News Talk KZRG it’s an organization that means the world to him.

“To see a child come that has special needs and then to see them leave, for example, one young man came as a troubled boy and received special attention because of that special need. After finishing here, and graduating from high school and graduating from college, he came back and became one of the directors here at the home. That kind of achievement is what keeps us going on.”

Turnaround Ranch will use the funds to purchase new coats, recreational supplies, plus some stocking stuffers for the kids.

Turnaround Ranch offers long-term residential care for youths in crisis. The 72-bed residential treatment facility for adolescents ages 10 – 18, provides 24-hour care for kids experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. Located on 20 acres west of Joplin, the main campus includes six cottages, a school, a gymnasium and outdoor recreational areas. The average stay is 6 to 9 months per child.