…living in a house without electricity, water or food?
…left home alone for hours and sometimes days at a time?
…present while spouses abuse and even kill one another?
…whose parent commits suicide?
…being physically and mentally abused?
…unprotected from child molestation?
…whose parents are arrested?

A safe environment, secure and loving!

The “Rescue the Children” Craycroft Youth Center is a 30-day emergency shelter for abandoned, abused and neglected children who are picked up by Child Protective Services and placed in the Center. These children are not juvenile delinquents, but rather victims who haven’t done anything wrong and have no control over their circumstances.

Prior to the existence of the Craycroft Youth Center, children picked up by Child Protective Services were housed at Juvenile Hall or slept on an office bench, due to an insufficient number of emergency foster homes. When foster homes were available, siblings were oftentimes separated, causing additional trauma to the children. The Fresno Rescue Mission, working in conjunction with Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services, provides these children with a safe, secure and loving environment while they are in transition, awaiting family, custodial or foster care decisions.

Facts about the Craycroft Youth Center

• Almost 10,000 children have been served since 1994.
• The Center is serving as a faith-based model to the State of California, providing services at approximately half the cost due to the generous contributions of the community.
• Children stay anywhere from a few hours up to 30 days and may appear at the Center multiple times.
• The Center is currently licensed for 15 boys and girls (ages 6 through 17, or ages 3 through 5 if part of a sibling group with an older brother or sister) and underage mothers with children.
• Staff is dedicated to demonstrating love, compassion and concern to each child.
• Full-time County Social Workers are on-site to expedite assessment care and intake.
• Children receive physical exams and care in the Fresno County Public Health Department on-site clinic.
• Children are bused to their schools and pre-school is available for younger children.
• Children have access to the 10-acre Craycroft Sonshine Ranch where they participate in fishing, boating, swimming, playing games and just relaxing in a unique farm setting.
• The Craycroft Youth Center is the only Fresno Rescue Mission ministry receiving partial government funding.

Craycroft "Sonshine" Ranch

The Fresno Rescue Mission has provided the Craycroft Youth Center with use of a 10-acre ranch for the children. There the children often find "healing" as they interact with one another and the farm animals. They also enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating. For many, this is the first time they've been out of the "inner city ".

Current Needs

Volunteer opportunities

Adopt a Room - Groups get together and refurbish the children's rooms. The rooms are warm, colorful, bright and friendly. Some have cartoon characters on the walls; others have playful animal scenes.

Special Activities: Play games, read books, present craft projects, sing, play a musical instrument, teach dance, do aerobics, go on outings to Blackbeards, the movies, McDonalds, bowling, swimming, etc.