WINCHESTER, Ky. (KT) – A popular fundraiser for a beloved Sunrise Children’s Services project marked half a decade on Saturday as the Kentucky Baptist Convention agency announced that earth will begin moving this fall. The news comes after seven years of faithful labor.
“It’s been slow. It’s been frustrating at times,” said Dale Suttles, president of Sunrise. “But God always provides a way, and that’s the lesson you learn from all of this.”
Solid Rock Children’s Ranch wasn’t always on the horizon for Sunrise. The dream started with Judy Singleton, who donated her 130-acre farm in Winchester to Sunrise in 2016 in order to house sibling groups who might otherwise get separated in the state’s foster care system and provide loving homes for difficult-to-place teenagers who are often overlooked.
Saturday’s event benefiting Solid Rock drew more than 100 participants and another 100 volunteers, continuing to add funds toward the $450,000 building material cost, plus $300,000 to cover the up-front cost of infrastructure changes.
“Donors have given in many ways to Solid Rock Children’s Ranch, which will be a place where large sibling groups who otherwise would be separated can find a place of refuge, healing and love,” said Stacie McLaughlin, director of marketing for Sunrise. “The need for foster homes is great, especially in Kentucky where sibling groups and teens have nowhere to go.”
“(Solid Rock is) our way to help the commonwealth deal with this crisis, that there’s not enough beds for children to sleep and to be taken care of,” Suttles added.
Kentucky Baptists and KBC churches have been among those diligently raising funds to break ground on Solid Rock.
“Donors have given monthly through our ‘$10 for 10 Challenge,’ where they committed to give at least $10 to Sunrise for no less than 10 months. Others have participated in Ride to the Ranch, directed by our really good friend, Randy McPheron, of Baptist Bikers of Kentucky,” McLaughlin said. “Painting parties were hosted by Ephesus Baptist Church, with lead pastor Todd Rader. And Whitehall Baptist Church in Richmond hosted our Silent Tea and Auction.
“Collectively, all these events, including the 5K hosted by Mt. Zion Christian Church and very generous donors, are making Judy Singleton’s dream of the Solid Rock Children’s Ranch become reality.”
And while there is more fundraising to do in the days ahead to cover the full $750,000 cost of the project, Kentucky Baptists and other donors have helped Sunrise cross a significant threshold.
“We have passed that threshold because of the great work of the Baptist Bikers, the 5K Run for the Ranch, area pastors — they’ve worked on this for years and, brick by brick, have raised the funds,” Suttles said.
There is “more work to do,” Suttles added. “But we’re certainly on the right path and we’re confident that we’re well on our way to building and completing two houses.”
Sunrise expects to break ground by early November.
To learn more about Solid Rock Children’s Ranch and Sunrise Children’s Services, visit sunrise.org/solid-rock/.
Friends of Life KY 