History

1991

January 1991

Larry & Cathy McDaniel begin Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Christian Children’s Home in their house.

Larry & Cathy McDaniel begin Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Christian Children’s Home in their house.
Realizing that there was a tremendous need for a professional home of love that was able to address the social and emotional issues, in addition to the physical ones of food, shelter, and clothing, Larry & his late wife, Cathy, formed Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries under the direction of a Board of Directors, consisting of Pete Cummings, Mary Foutz, Doug Phillips and Phil Wyatt.

1993

September 1993

Co-founder Cathy McDaniel is diagnosed with cancer.

Co-founder Cathy McDaniel is diagnosed with cancer.

Just a few months after Larry commits to full time ministry, Cathy is diagnosed with cancer.

1994

April 1994

Larry meets Mark & Laurene Zimmer.

Larry meets Mark & Laurene Zimmer.

Larry says, “We talked about our visions for the future regarding ministry to abused and neglected children, and discussed what that could look like going forward. Mark and I really connected and our visions for the future were very similar.”

October 1994

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s first Home Parents, Rusty & Karla Gebhardt, are hired.

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s first Home Parents, Rusty & Karla Gebhardt, are hired.

Rusty & Karla Gebhardt are hired as Home Parent Missionaries.

November 1994

Cathy McDaniel passes away after her battle with cancer.

Cathy McDaniel passes away after her battle with cancer.

“Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see Him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.” I Corinthians 13:12

1995

October 1995

Mark & Laurene donate a portion of their property to Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries.

Mark & Laurene donate a portion of their property to Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries.

This will become the current property where Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is located, which now contains over 300 acres.

1996

June 1996

Larry marries Denise, a young widow with two children.

Larry marries Denise, a young widow with two children.

Besides creating a family of six children, Denise becomes “Exective Director of Odds & Ends” at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries.

1997

May 1997

The first Pancake Breakfast fundraiser was held at Memorial Baptist Church.

The first Pancake Breakfast fundraiser was held at Memorial Baptist Church.

This was one of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s longest standing traditions, which occurred annually from 1997 to 2019. In 2022, the event grew and transitioned into “Pancakes and Pickleball.”

September 1997

Dedication of first home, Cathy’s Home

Dedication of first home, Cathy’s Home

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s 1st Home is named Cathy’s Home in memory of Cathy.

1999

September 1999

Dedication of our second home, The Zimmer Home

Dedication of our second home, The Zimmer Home

Mark and Laurene Zimmer’s vision for Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries and their heart for God’s children blesses us with our property as well as a 2nd home for children in need. Mark passed away in January of 2018. The impact of Mark and Laurene’s incredible heart for children and families through their strong support of the mission of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries will be felt for generations to come.

October 1999

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries hosts its first Fall Family Festival – now known as Open House.

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries hosts its first Fall Family Festival – now known as Open House.

Turtle and frog races, gunny sack and 3-legged races, bale rolling competition and more occur during this fun-filled afternoon hosted for our supporters.

2000

November 2000

The Hubbell Home, our 3rd home, is completed.

Hubbell, Ira and Gail, accept plaque from Larry | coyotehill.org

Built in honor and with the generous support of Ira and Gail Hubbell and their family, this home is a wonderful addition to our ministry and service to families. Ira and Gail shared a commitment to give children a place to grow, learn, to love, to play . . . A Safe Place to Be a Child. Gail passed away in November of 2013, and Ira in January of 2018. Their legacy of service will forever live on in the Hubbell Home.

2001

May 2001

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries celebrates our first high school graduate.

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries celebrates our first high school graduate.

Since then, 100% of our youth who were seniors while residing at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries have received their diploma.

2005

March 2005

100 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

100 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

What a blessing to provide A Safe Place to Be a Child for each and every one of them.

July 2005

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries goes on first mission trip to Acuna, Mexico.

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries goes on first mission trip to Acuna, Mexico.

Home Parents Jacob & Amy Kingery and Chris & Leslie McPeak take their children to Mexico to serve on their first foreign mission trip.

August 2005

The first horse show is hosted by our own Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries kids, assisted by Stephanie Hillerman (therapist), Charity Johnson & Ann Kiningham.

The first horse show is hosted by our own Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries kids, assisted by Stephanie Hillerman (therapist), Charity Johnson & Ann Kiningham.

A great way for the kids to show off their new horsemanship skills, learned in our developing Equine Program.

2009

September 2009

200 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

200 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

What a blessing to provide A Safe Place to Be a Child for each and every one of them.

2011

April 2011

The Wright Home, our fourth home, is completed.

The Wright home | coyotehill.org

Our first handicap-accessible home, built in honor of Forrest “Bud” and Marjorie Wright by their sons, Bentley and Hartley. Bentley, a long-time supporter and friend of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries, passed away in January of 2013.

June 2011

Overton Arena is completed, with 14 stalls and an indoor riding arena.

Overton Arena is completed, with 14 stalls and an indoor riding arena.

Thanks to the generous support of Doris Overton and built in memory of her husband, Jack Overton.

2012

July 2012

Foutz Field, a combination baseball & soccer field, is completed.

Foutz Field, a combination baseball & soccer field, is completed.

Made possible with support from the Foutz family and a grant from Mizzou Greek Week. Jim and Mary Foutz have been supporters of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries from the beginning – Mary is one of our founding board members. The field is named in memory of Jim’s mother – also named Mary.

December 2012

300 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

300 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

What an honor!

2014

September 2014

Our 5th home, The Atherton Home, is completed.

Our 5th home, The Atherton Home, is completed.

Named in honor of Bill and Tammy Atherton, who came on staff as home parents in 1995. They served in Larry’s former family residence and listened to dreams about a new property containing homes designed and built specifically for a children’s home ministry. Meanwhile, they served 24/7, seven days a week…and learned in the school of “hard knocks” how to be the best possible Home Parents they could be, serving longer than any Home Parents in our history.

September 2014

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is recognized as an Angels in Adoption.

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is recognized as an Angels in Adoption.

Two-time recipient of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption® award in honor of extraordinary contributions in adoption, permanency, and child welfare.

2016

December 2016

After 25 years of ministry, 407 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

After 25 years of ministry, 407 children have called Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries home.

Larry says, “We survived the mistakes, fought the battles, and learned some things along the way. And 25 years later we’ve served hundreds of kids and helped improve countless families. I’m very thankful to have had this opportunity. It’s changed us all for the better, and made this world a little bit better place to be.”

2018

March 2018

Duplex added on site

Licensing and Training Foster Parents for Children in Foster Care Missouri

Built with as much volunteer labor as possible, the duplex at The Hill was constructed in 2018 in order to help meet many various needs on site. It most often serves as a living space for foster parents who have fewer children to care for, or who are in the midst of transition.

2019

March 2019

Our 6th home, The Petershiem Home, is completed.

Our 6th home, The Petershiem Home, is completed.

The Petersheim Home was completed through the generosity and vision of Ed Petersheim. With additional generous support from Veterans United Foundation and our community, this home was built to be another safe place to be a child. Ed and Brenda and Veterans United Foundation share a compassion for children and a commitment to enhance lives. May this home be a legacy of devotion and humility, impacting children for generations to come.

2020

January 2020

Our Foster Care Services program is launched.

STARS graduation congratulations | coyotehill.org

After caring for children for many years at our Children’s Home in Harrisburg, MO., we are now licensing and supporting individual foster families in Columbia and the surrounding communities. Foster Care Services uses Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s decades of proven success to change the landscape of foster care in mid-Missouri.

August 2020

Ubl Home is Completed and Serving Children

The Ubl Home | coyotehill.org

Despite a world-wide pandemic, the Ubl Home was opened through the generosity of Jerry & Maggie Ubl. Their dream to create a legacy that continues serving children long after they are gone was completed in August 2020. “We’ve been so fortunate and blessed over the years,” Jerry Ubl said. “We couldn’t think of any better place to contribute than Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries and to let a child be a child. These kids deserve better.”

December 2020

We Expand Services into the Jefferson City Area

We Expand Services into the Jefferson City Area

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is thrilled to announce the expansion of the ministry into the Jefferson City area. Thanks to the generous support of many donors, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries has purchased a home in southeast Jefferson City. This home will serve as a community foster home, with additional supports from Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries. The home will be able to care for up to six foster children at once, providing them with a loving, safe home.

2021

January 2021

Transition to Foster Care Community

Transition to Foster Care Community

In 2021, 30 years after its inception, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries transitioned the homes on our 300 acre Harrisburg campus to become a foster care community. Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries now consists of three areas of ministry: foster care licensing and support services, the foster care community, and an equine program for veterans and children in foster care.

February 2021

Expansion Opens a Columbia Office

Expansion Opens a Columbia Office

With the coming of 2021, a long-standing Columbia ministry, Love Columbia opened the Love Columbia Center at 1209 E Walnut (former Boone County Family Resources building.) The large office building on the 2.6-acre property not only gives Love Columbia a spacious location for their ministry, but also enough space that they can share half of their building with Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries! This new office gives us plenty of space for training foster parents, providing therapy and resources for foster families in our community, and running our development team.

February 2021

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries celebrates 30 years

Ubl Home; 30th anniversary Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries

2021 was a year of celebrating our 30th anniversary. During those 30 years of ministry, over 700 children in the foster care system were provided with safe and loving homes.

June 2021

Expansion Opens a Moberly Office

Moberly ribbon cutting

With the rapid growth of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s Foster Care Services, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Moberly opened in 2021. We had our official ribbon cutting in November 2022. This expansion allows Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries to serve our foster parents in Randolph and surrounding counties.

October 2021

Expansion into Northeast Missouri

Hannibal steam boat MO river

Since the inception of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s Foster Care Services program in 2020, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries has expanded into the Moberly and Jefferson City areas. Now, with the hiring of a Hannibal Area Coordinator in October of 2021, we are excited to announce that our foster care licensing and support services have moved into the NE Missouri region, also! “By bringing Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s Foster Care Services to the Hannibal area, I hope to love, serve and help promote positive change in the community where I grew up. I want to facilitate more well-equipped foster homes, to serve and love more kids.” ~~Brittany McCaskey, Hannibal Area Coordinator

2022

March 2022

Family Connections Home

family connections home

Becoming a foster family is about more than fostering a child. It is also about fostering their connection to the biological family God gave them. The addition of our Family Connections Home, made possible through the generosity of the Veterans United Foundation and program funding by the Boone County Children’s Services Fund, allows us to create a home-like atmosphere where this connection can flourish with supervised visits.

May 2022

100 Licensed Foster Families

new foster parents

We are excited to announce that 100 foster families have now been licensed through Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s Foster Care Services, which began in 2020. The work does not end with these 100 families. There are over 14,000 children in foster care in Missouri. We must keep going until there are more than enough families for children.

July 2022

Family BBQ event begins

july 4 celebration

The Family BBQ is an annual event for foster and adoptive families in our community and our Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries supporters to come celebrate July 4th together. This free event is full of family-friendly fun, food, fireworks, pony rides, games, and more.

2023

January 2023

Joined CAFO

christian alliance for orphans

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries joined Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO.) CAFO unites a movement of organizations, churches, and individuals worldwide, helping to inspire and equip Christians to effectively live out the Bible’s call to care for orphans and vulnerable children.

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