The Refuge for Children

10/22/2026

Once again The Refuge for Children would like to thank The Indiana Grand Chapter of The Widows Sons for completing their fundraising ride for The Refuge. It was a beautiful late summer day, and proceeds were donated to benefit the youth residing in the shelter. They were also kind enough to donate a ping pong table and supplies for the basement recreation space! Thank you again to this kind and generous group for their help, and be on the lookout for information if you’d like to join next year’s fundraising ride.

09/03/2026

We are excited to welcome Bekah O’Sullivan to The Refuge for Children as our new Case Manager! Bekah earned her Master of Health Administration from the University of Kentucky and most recently worked as an Administrative Coordinator for Frazier Rehab with U of L Health. Through her education and professional experience, Bekah has developed a passion for helping others and making a positive difference in the lives of those around her.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, coaching high school volleyball and helping with her mother-in-law’s bakery. We look forward to Rebekah’s help with serving children in our care.

07/30/2026

We’re down to less than a month until this fundraising ride for The Refuge takes place! Please share this post to increase participant numbers and be sure to register using the info on the flyer if you’d like to join the event.
Our staff and our children being served Thank You for supporting our mission of providing hope and help to children!

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!

07/17/2026

We’re searching for a Case Manager!

Must have a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a human services field and experience in case management, children or teens. Will handle admissions, care plans and discharge summaries, as well as interact with schools, social service providers, DCS and probation departments, and most importantly will help to shape the care we give to youth living in the shelter. Additional information posted on Indeed.com job posting.

Please submit a resume either by email to [email protected] or drop off in-person at The Refuge Admin offices, at the corner of 1st and Cherry Streets in Austin, IN. Phone calls for info can be made to 812-413-3233 and press extension for Executive Director.

Please share with anyone who'd be a great candidate and thank you for your support of our work!

Send a message to learn more

06/19/2026

Just over two months remain to register for this ride to benefit The Refuge for Children. The more riders, the more support generated for those we serve! The Widows Sons is a group of Master Masons who raise money for charity and are affiliated with Masonic Lodge chapters.
Please forward this notice and let’s boost the number of riders for this great event!

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!

06/14/2026

The Refuge for Children would like to extend condolences to the family of Berley Goodin. Mr. Goodin was a member of The Refuge for Children Board and was devoted to the mission and work of The Refuge. We deeply appreciate his and his family’s great support in establishing The Refuge, and we send prayers of peace and love to his loved ones during this difficult time.

View Berley Carroll Goodin's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

06/12/2026

And now we offer our best wishes to our second employee who is newly married this week! Please join us in congratulating Direct Care Staffer Billy Graham and his new wife Robyn! He provided us this beautiful photo of their wedding, and we know with his kind and wonderful heart he’ll be a great husband! Congrats Billy and Robyn, and we wish you a lifetime of joy ❤️.

06/10/2026

Love is in the air at The Refuge as we celebrate the marriages of two employees this week! Today please join us in congratulating Case Manager and beautiful bride Sarah (Lerdo) Weeks on her marriage to Fiancé Dillon Weeks. Dillon has relocated from Tennessee and the newlyweds reside in Scottsburg. We wish you both many years of happiness!

Stay tuned this week to see who our other just married staffer is!

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!