COAL VALLEY, Ill. — Arrowhead Youth and Family Services, formerly Arrowhead Ranch, held its final auto auction Saturday morning, signaling the end of the organization.
CEO Dr. Luis Moreno originally announced the end of its residential program in March, citing diminishing state funding and an increase in severe cases. The last group of boys left the program at the end of April. But he said the organization has since decided to stop all services.
More than 100 vehicles were up for auction, all repaired by that last group of boys. Moreno said proceeds from the sale will go to paying staff as the facility finishes its shutdown. In years past, the auction funded extra activities for kids in the program, including horseback riding, movie nights and games.
"We're down to about 15 employees that have been helping with the auto auction," Moreno said. "After the auto auction, we'll be down to about a handful that will primarily be helping with maintenance and cleaning up the facilities."
One of those final employees is Roxie Muskeyvalley. This is her 48th year with the organization.
"The closer it gets to everything being done, it’s starting to hit home," Muskeyvalley said. "Right now, you’re just busy getting everything together, but in the moments when you’re not doing anything, it hits hard."
But with the pain of closing the facility comes the reminder of how many people they've helped.
"Incidentally in the last couple of weeks, since the kids found out we were closing...a lot of kids have called back," Muskeyvalley said. "Lot of kids on Facebook, run into them in the store and they say how we turned their life around."
Moreno also recalled times when program graduates reached out to thank him. He said one told him the program saved his life.
"I was on a call with an agency that we do business with, and when I told her where I was, she said, 'Oh my husband used to be out there,' she says, 'Thank you for a better husband,'" Moreno said. "She said he credits Arrowhead with being a better man, and better husband, better father based on what he learned out here."
He said there are few other programs like Arrowhead in Illinois — and the boys they've served in the past few years are severe cases, making it more difficult to place or help them.
"I've run into some who've been here, and they just say they feel that it’s really still needed," Muskeyvalley said.
Both Muskeyvalley and Moreno are looking for new employment once the facility shutters.
"I just want to thank everybody for the support," Moreno said. "We have great staff, so if anybody’s looking to hire anybody, we still have staff looking for jobs."
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