Reading Reindeer collects books for Edgewood Ranch

The Edgewood Children’s Ranch started its work with two troubled children in 1966, with a mission to mend broken children and broken families. It is now able to accommodate more than 70 children ranging in age from 6 to 17.

Again this year, Reading Reindeer is continuing its delivery of books for the children and also adding titles to the Edgewood Ranch’s library.

The ranch offers help to children who are struggling academically and behaviorally in the classroom and who are in families in which the home has become a battleground.

It is a non-denominational Christian facility that welcomes any child that needs help, regardless of race, creed or ability to pay. 

Each child lives in a cottage with seven to nine other children and two staff members. They work as a family, and each member has assigned chores.

The parent or guardian must agree to attend parenting classes once a week as well as a chapel service on Sunday afternoons. 

The ranch has its own school on the campus and uses the A.C.E. curriculum, which allows each student to work at his or her own pace.

Within 18 months, the average child and average family are capable of being brought back together, and the children re-enter school at their appropriate grade level. Some students now attend Florida Virtual School online.

Since the goal is family reunification, the children return home one weekend a month, as well as at spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas and summer vacation. 

The ranch facilities encompass 110 acres at 1451 Edgewood Ranch Road, Orlando. The campus features extensive outdoor recreation space, a fishing lake and new gym.

The ranch invites individuals to join its Love A Kid Club for a donation of $25 a month. Tours of the Ranch are available by calling (407) 295-2464. The ranch also operates and accepts donations for its resale shop — The Edgewood Ranch Thrift Shop, at 1010 S. Dillard St., in Winter Garden. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Pick-up of donations is available in Orange County by calling (407) 877-9458. 

For more information on the Ranch and its programs, visit edgewoodranch.com.

The West Orange Times & Observer is looking for your help in providing these books again this year.

For new book donations, any title suitable for a child through middle school is acceptable. Checks made payable to Reading Reindeer can be sent to the Times’ office at 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787.

Volunteers also are needed to label, sort and distribute the books beginning this week.

For more, see the Reading Reindeer ad on 12A or call Kathy at (407) 929-2676.