Range input parameter reads as value not object

I have a function that requires a range object as a parameter. When I loop through the cells in a worksheet I pass a cell into the function to get the result I need. When I run it there is an error claiming that I passed a string not a range object. Here is my code:

Dim c As Integer
Dim getRng As Range
Dim Students As StudentCollection 'custom class
Dim Parents As ParentCollection 'custom class
Dim sRng As Range

c = 1
Set getRng = rng.Cells(1, 1)
While getRng <> "end"
    While InStr(1, getRng, "Parent") = 0
        c = c + 1
        Set getRng = rng.Cells(c, 1)
    Wend
    If InStr(1, getRng, "Parent 1") > 0 Then
        Set sRng = getRng.Offset(-5, 0) 'this reads a "sRng.value"
        Students.AddCollect (sRng) 'this throws the error claiming sRng is not an object
        Parents.AddCollect (getRng)
    ElseIf InStr(1, getRng, "Parent 2") > 0 Then
        Parents.AddCollect (getRng)
    End If
Wend

Students.Send (studentRng)
Parents.Send (parentRng)

Any ideas?