Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

My Father’s Arrows (MFA), located at 4025 Highway 178 in Jay, Fla. was one of 12 non-profit recipients that won $100,670 through Impact 100 in 2024.
The funds were used to purchase three new 8-passenger SUVs, displaying both IMPACT 100 and MFA logos.
A faith-based ministry, community driven, public charity that specializes in restoration and orphan care, MFA was established in 2014 by Jason and Sarah Ellis of Jay, Fla.
“We won Impact 100 in 2017, which funded the addition on the children’s home,” said Ellis. “We were a finalist in 2023, but did not win.”
“Within minutes of finding out we didn’t win, people approached me with sadness and surprise that we didn’t win,” said Ellis. “However, within two minutes, an Impact member told Ellis to pick out a van that would be paid for.”
That evening, to her amazement, Ellis received a call that resulted in the purchase of a second van for MFA. She later called the Impact 100 board to tell them the good news.
“That was on a Sunday, and I think by Tuesday that week, somebody had stepped up to buy the third vehicle,” said Ellis. “That’s why we have three new used vans from that year.”
Ellis said in 2024, she submitted the same grant, with upgrades, and MFA won.
“We bought the three KIA vans,” said Ellis. “We have rolling advertisement, so people know, because 11 years in, there are still people who don’t know we exist.”
The first three vans were from two Impact members who donated them and a third was a private donor who heard about it and decided to donate one. Then we won the three in 2024 through Impact.
MFA acquired 288 acres of land where they will build a new, larger childrens’ home campus with an expanded residential program and private school. Ellis said the plan is to build the new building further back on the land.
“We are in a re-design, where we can build it in pieces, so it’s not such a financial burden,” said Ellis. “My goal is by the end of the year to be clearing land.”
Ellis said there are volunteers, contractors, plumbers and others who are willing to contribute their skill or materials at cost, which is a huge help. She said they have done the best they could with the building they are in, but she looks forward to a more usable facility that will house more children in need.
In the future, they will offer a ranch-based, therapeutic program with the 30 horses MFA houses currently.
She said the plans include therapy on site, medical on site and the private school on site. Several projects were completed in 2024, including rebranding of the MFA logo and colors, the purchase of four new vehicles (Impact 100 grant), additional therapy certifications for staff, several new horse pens for additional horses, a recent renovation of the residential house and clean up and organization of several out buildings.
“We’ve had 102 kids so far here at MFA,” said Ellis. “I’m believing for thousands mores to be impacted.”
A list of immediate needs, staff needs and the various ways to give are at myfathersarrows.org. Anyone interested in volunteering can call Ellis at 850-675-4403 or email myfathersarrows.org.