HARRISVILLE – Following a winding dirt driveway in Alcona County leads directly to the idyllic landscape of a small red horse barn, several outbuildings in need of fresh paint and minor repairs and a two-story farmhouse. These buildings ompose the heart and mission of The Chosen Ranch, which is to offer a home to abused, neglected, abandoned and homeless children while giving them the opportunity to live, grow and thrive through compassion, respect and a safe environment.

The non-denominational Christian home is finding its footing with the help of local volunteers and businesses as well as support from the community and hopes to continue the growth of involvement.

“We hope to integrate the community kids with our kids while trying to break down walls,” Executive Director Frank Dimercurio said.

Thus far, Dimercurio said he has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. During the first weekend of cleanup Dimercurio said 35 volunteers helped. The following weekend over 75 people attended.

People showed up to paint, fix and patch walls, Dimercurio said while walking through the farmhouse leading the way through the kitchen with new appliances purchased locally at discounted rates and into the living room with a vaulted ceiling, couches, tables to play board games on and a large crackling fireplace keeping the room toasty on a cool spring day. In addition to the roomy lower level is an upstairs with three bedrooms, enough room for six boys, and a finished basement.

“For the kids that never had a thing, it’s not a bad place to call home, is it?” he said. “I stand here and I can see kids everywhere. Enjoying life, laughing. They won’t have to fear anymore and they will be surrounded by loving adults.”

Dimercurio said through the work of Judge Laura Frawley and the local court system he and Assistant Executive Director Jamie Bullis, who is also a state trooper, were inspired to do more for the community.

Last fall an Alcona County probation officer contacted Dimercurio about a case involving a 15-year-old boy who was placed into his grandfather’s custody while his father was in prison. Dimercurio said the grandfather was not able to handle the situation and abandoned the child at the courthouse, which did not have a placement for the child.

“The judge has a passion and she wants these kids to be able to continue with the one constant they have, the school they are going to. How many things can these kids have torn up for them?” Dimercurio said.

Dimercurio said after learning about another program in Alabama, The Chosen Ranch came to life.

The Chosen Ranch follows the guidance of its mentor ranch in the mission to give the very best to the children who will call the ranch home.

“We can make a difference. We can make a substantial difference. That’s the concept we are going to teach the kids,” Dimercurio said. “We all need a little lift up once in a while. That’s all we are doing, that’s our function.”

The current goal is to begin with the home for six boys ranging in ages from eight to 17 years old and the house parents, but eventually the directors said they would like to expand to have a second ranch for girls and to build additional homes to house more children for the county, Northeast Michigan and potentially the entire state.

“Think of what they can accomplish. They have parents that love them, food on the table and people there to help them with their homework and hold them accountable. That is a very powerful thing for a young boy, very powerful,” Bullis said.

Bullis said there is not a set date for the ranch to open its doors to children.

“For us it’s very important to build a very strong foundation to have policies and procedures in place and have a program built before we take in the first kid,” Bullis said.

Meanwhile, the directors and volunteers are working to obtain licensing, including a current application through the Department of Human Services, and additional funding.

Bullis said it will cost $12,000 to $13,000 per year per child in order to provide all needs.

“Why don’t these kids deserve to have anything different that other kids have? We just want to give them an opportunity,” he said.

Bullis said the cap of 15 percent of all donations can be used outside direct impact of helping children.

“That is an enormously difficult goal to meet but that’s the standard we have set,” Bullis said. “Every dime that comes in here that can be used for bettering the life of a child that’s what it goes for. It’s not top heavy administration, we don’t have all of the levels of bureaucracy.”

To learn more about becoming involved with The Chosen Ranch visit www.chosenranch.org.

Paige Trisko can be reached via email at ptrisko@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Paige on Twitter @pt_alpenanews. Read her blog, Scribbles on Pa(i)ges, at www.thealpenanews.com.