The following article appeared in the December 10, 2015 issue of the Herald Journal.
Circle Ranch Seeking Possible Land Donation
Circle Ranch, Inc. will be a Christ centered long term care home for children who have been neglected, abandoned, and abused, and are in need of alternative housing.
A 501c3 non-profit organization, it is incorporated by the state of Georgia, and is presently in the fundraising stage.
The primary service area will be region 5 plus Putnam County of the Department of Family and Children Services. The counties included are Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, and Walton.
Circle Ranch is seeking a possible land donation within the counties of Greene, Morgan, Oconee, or Putnam, as these counties are more the center of the service area. The land should be between 75 and 100 acres and be suitable for both ranch and residential living. The land should include some pasture, some wooded, and a water source of some kind. There could be a flowing creek, a spring, a working pond, a river, or a lake. The land should be within a reasonable distance from schools, a hospital, and a local community. The property may or may not have structures located on it.
When considering a land donation, there can be certain tax advantages depending on ones individual tax status. An individual’s personal tax accountant should always be consulted before making a decision.
Within the counties of our service area, we have hundreds of children who must be removed from their homes and these counties have lost almost 45% of their foster homes. Many times these children must be removed from their own communities to the other side of the state or wherever there is a vacancy. These children go through much trauma not only from being removed from their own homes but also having to enroll in new schools, find new friends, and adjust to a new families. These children are victims of circumstances, not of their own doing and desperately need our help. DFCS simply does not have enough options for alternative housing.
Circle Ranch will provide a structured, stable, Christ centered environment, where these children can live and heal. They will be cared for and loved by Christian house parents and staff. Our help is needed to provide alternative housing in a safe, secure, loving, environment to help these children heal, so these cycles will not continue to be repeated.
If you would like more information or have any questions, you may visit us at our website,www.circleranch.org or contact Jody Sandwick, Executive Director, at 706-467-0004 or 706-817-1557. Donations can be made on our website or mailed to Circle Ranch, 1330 Tal Lewis Road, White Plains, Ga. 30678.