Last week our friends at Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) took treats to all Idaho Youth Ranch Treasure Valley thrift store locations to thank them for all the hard work they have done to reopen the stores and begin taking donations again.  

We always feel so fortunate to receive so much incredible support from our community. Without support from generous partners, we wouldn't be able to help as many kids through our therapeutic services and residential programs. Recently, our network of community support grew when we met Suzi Boyle and Max Mohammadi.

If you have a Fred Meyer Rewards card, you are just one step away from helping Idaho’s at-risk kids and families every time you shop.

At last July’s Wine, Women & Shoes fundraising event in Coeur d’Alene, IYR clinician Amanda Smith shared an amazing story with hundreds of generous guests, all gathered to support promising futures for Idaho kids and families. With her permission we're glad to have the opportunity to share this story with you. The story is true, but we've changed the hero's name to protect his privacy.

Middleton Kids Week Helps Kids Help Other Kids

When we opened our new IYR thrift store in Middleton in June 2013, we launched an annual community support program called “Middleton Kids Week.” Every day during the third week in June, the Idaho Youth Ranch Middleton store donates 20% of that day’s sales to a different local youth organization.

There’s a new vehicle parked in the lot at our Boise distribution center, but it doesn’t belong to the Idaho Youth Ranch. You might say we’re “fostering” it here; keeping it safe and sheltered until it’s called into service for some very special children.

Fred Meyer Helps Make “Call to the Heart” a Win for Idaho Kids

In May, Fred Meyer in Boise graciously donated gift cards for us to use as a matching opportunity for the “Call to the Heart” portion of our Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser. For every donation our WWS guests made at the $50 level, the Fred Meyer (Franklin Store) donated a $50 gift card for Idaho Youth Ranch clients to use. The store provided $2,500 worth of gift cards as well as 440 long-stemmed white roses--one for each Wine, Women & Shoes guest to take home.

Healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it takes the support and collaboration of a caring community to make promising futures possible for kids and families. That’s why community partnerships are so important to all of us involved with the Idaho Youth Ranch . Both on the job and off, we welcome opportunities to connect with a broad range of other service organizations, from the YMCA to United Way to the Idaho National Guard

Greg Orlando, our program director at Anchor House, recently had the honor of being nominated by one of his staff who serves in the Guard to take part in “Operation Boss Lift 2015,” sponsored by theEmployer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).The mission of ESGR is to “gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through mediation.”

 Christmas was made a lot brighter this year for Idaho kids and families, thanks to the many big-hearted people and businesses behind IYR’s annual “Giving Tree” gift drive.