The Refuge for Children

Home
United States
Austin, IN
The Refuge for Children

Providing hope and help for children

05/15/2026

The Refuge was blessed again this year with a team from Cummins Seymour Tech Center for Jackson County United Way’s Day of Caring. This team did some extremely difficult work this year and we are so grateful for their time and effort! The rocks we had in the flower beds and the weeds they housed are now gone, and we have some very attractive and kid-safe mulch now as part of our landscaping, along with a new tree. Among employees on the team this year were: John Rennekamp, Justin Rancour, Imad Ahmed, Oliver Livingston, Mignonne Hirwa Mwiza, Kuldeep Namdeo, Brihalia Kenton, Ashwini Ovhal, Alejandro Miranda, Manoj Raut and Stephani Hoy. Our sincerest thanks to this Cummins Team for returning to us this year!
Special thanks also to Renee Wilson for assistance in coordinating, Jackson County United Way and Hoosier Bouncers for providing needed equipment.

04/20/2026

Registration is now open for the second annual Widows Sons Ride to benefit The Refuge for Children! Refuge Staff, Board and community volunteers will be preparing and serving a meal after the ride completes, and there will be tours of the facility for riders who'd like to participate and ask any questions about what we do and who we serve. Please see the info in the photo below, and also please share as often as you wish until mid-August. The more riders, the more money that can be raised to benefit the youth served. Reach out to register at 812-416-0795 or [email protected]. We appreciate the Indiana Widows Sons Grand Chapter for choosing us for this fundraising effort, and we hope to see you there!

04/16/2026

The Refuge for Children would like to offer our sincerest thanks to The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 555 (Scottsburg) for their kind and generous donation. We are in need of a generator for emergency power, and this kind offering helps us to reach that goal. Members took a tour of the facility and presented the check to staff. Pictured are Noble Grand Joe Wooten, Steve Martinez, Mike Davisson, Rick Zollman and John Lizenby, along with Refuge Executive Director Kris Meyer and Case Manager Sarah Lerdo. Your kindness is much appreciated as we continue our work and mission!

03/25/2026

As we near the end of the first quarter of 2026, we’d like to issue thanks for more supporters who’ve generously given to us here at The Refuge for Children. Board, staff and youth we serve all appreciate your kindness, and we are filled with gratitude to be remembered in your giving and in your prayers. In this post we thank:
Kimberlin Creek Baptist Church
Bruce Barger
Austin Christian Church
Heritage Insurance
Church of the American Martyrs
Fisherman’s Paradise Christian Church

Thank you again for helping to make our mission possible! ❤️

03/04/2026

We had a visit this morning from Mr. Amick with Kids First who brought us a generous donation. We very much appreciate this kind help! He is pictured here with our Case Manager, Sarah Lerdo. Many thanks to Kids First for supporting us.

12/31/2025

As we wrap up 2025, we’d like to thank a few more people who made the holidays and our work at The Refuge more special.

Austin Middle School staff and bus drivers, we so appreciate the Secret Santa work you did for our resident/ your student. You created a lot of joy for Christmas (Photo below of a staff member dropping off gifts).

We’d like to sincerely thank Gartech Industries for remembering us with a repeat generous holiday donation. Thank you for supporting our work!

And we’d like to express our deep appreciation again this year for Ronnie Wright, who lovingly tends to all of our handyman, repair and building needs on a volunteer basis anytime we need his help. He is wonderful and we are all grateful for his time and service all year long!

12/25/2025

On behalf of the Board, staff and the children we serve, we wish you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

12/23/2025

We’d like to give our heartfelt thanks for everyone who donated to The Refuge for Children this holiday season. Your gifts are much appreciated by us and by the children we serve. We had new residents arrive (as late as last night) and we’re able to provide gifts for them due to your generosity. We’d like to especially thank those who contributed for the holidays:
Cummins SEP, Penny Watts, Tamah DePriest, Widows Sons Grand Chapter, Vickie Brown, Kaitlin Staschke and her Austin Elementary class, John Masden, Board Member Chris Routt and friends, and the Church of the American Martyrs of Scottsburg. More thank you’s to come, and once again, we appreciate you so very much!

12/14/2025

Hello Community Friends!
We sometimes are asked what can be done in terms of donating items that we need.
Here are some more immediate needs that we have if anyone would like to contribute.

We have some youth that love to play in the snow. We are in need of snow pants, insulated/ waterproof gloves, and snow boots for two males and one female. If you’d like to donate any of these, please private message us for sizes.

Other items the kids would love for snow days at home are hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, cookie dough to bake, popcorn/ kettle corn to pop in a microwave, and a set of mugs (up to 8 needed). Additional wish list items are snow molds for snow play and building.

If you’re interested in donating any of these items, please private message and plan to drop items off at the house or admin office. You may private message also with any questions.

Thank you so much, and watch this page all winter to check out their snow creations!

12/13/2025

Christmas is all around the house at The Refuge for Children! The kids in our care helped string lights and decorate trees last week. Stay tuned for more posts of how they are enjoying the holiday season!

Address

50 SOUTH FIRST Street
Austin, IN
47102

Telephone

+18124133233

Website

https://www.therefugeforchildren.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Refuge for Children posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Austin?