The Heerde family generously donated a $2.5 million farm estate gift to Hope Haven.

The Gift of Mobility: Luke's Story

By 7017444915 • December 23, 2025
For the entire beginning of his life, Luke lived life on the floor. We met him on our fourth distribution day in Kenya. His arrival at the site was quiet, but his story spoke volumes. Luke, 11, lives with cerebral palsy. Before he was brought to a children’s home for the disabled, he had endured years of neglect. He was tied up, unable to move around, and kept inside his home so his disability would remain hidden. When they found him, he was emaciated, in constant pain, and X-rays revealed a broken hip that had gone untreated for years. His caregiver, Don, brought Luke to our distribution site for the first wheelchair he has ever owned. Fitting his chair took more than two hours, but Luke smiled through every moment of it. He seemed to understand that his world was opening up for the first time. During the fitting, one of our team members stayed by Luke’s side, comforting him. She shared, “I spent a lot of time with him, praying and singing and just stroking the side of his face. And I think that’s one of the things that really got me, I don’t think he’s had much human contact. He would just lean into me, wanting me to keep going, and he grabbed at my hands like he didn’t want to let go.” Every wheelchair you help provide becomes a turning point - a chance for a child to sit upright for the first time, attend school, join their peers, or simply experience life beyond the walls where they were once hidden. For Luke, it meant being seen, supported, and cared for in ways he had never known. This Christmas season, you can give the gift of mobility and change a life forever. Your support ensures that the most vulnerable are not forgotten and brings dignity and hope to children who have endured far too much. Luke is not alone — children like him are waiting across the world. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40 You can change a life today. Every gift brings light into the darkness and gives children like Luke a future filled with possibility. Thank you for giving children like Luke, and so many others, a chance at dignity and hope. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. We are deeply grateful for your support and prayers as we continue our mission to serve and uplift those in need.
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The Heerde Family of Spirit Lake recently provided Hope Haven with a farm estate gift of approximately $2.5 million. The ministry held a ceremony Thursday, April 11 to recognize the family’s sizable contribution. 

“This is historic for us and historic for Iowa,” said Hope Haven CEO, Matt Buley. “The purpose of Hope Haven is not to have a big endowment. It’s for gifts to go out, while funds continue to grow, so there will be a day — years from now — where we’ll be able to say the Heerde gift has been doubled. We’ve now given out $2.5 million dollars.” 

The family’s sale of their farmland generated close to $20 million — making for one of the largest donations of its kind in Iowa, according to organizers. The total gift benefited ten nonprofits, including local organizations like City of Spirit Lake, Excelsior United Methodist Church, Camp Foster YMCA, United Methodist Camp, and Milford Memorial Library.

Hope Haven initially discovered it would be receiving the donation in March of 2022. Farmers Savings Bank handled the sale of the land in August of 2021 and was ultimately involved in the donation process as well. Bank President, Brad Simington, said many farm families got to know the Heerde family through their corn-shelling business, including Simington’s own relatives. 

“I think, within life, you have relationships, and you gain relationships, and that’s the case with the Heerdes and the Simingtons,” Simington said. “Somewhere along the line, there was a relationship that was gained and trust that was had there. In some ways, we never thought this day would come where we would have to sell the land. It took us quite a few years.” 

The Heerde family owned hundreds of acres of farm ground northwest of Fostoria, valued at around $24 million. A total of 1,359 acres of land was sold — $14,067 per acre on average — all of which was owned previously by Willie and Earnedine Heerde, and their four children. Heerde and his children — each of whom lived with a disability — worked on the farm together for many years.

Hope Haven will add the recent estate gift to their Support Foundation
Endowment fund, bringing the total funds to over $20 million.
A percentage of the endowment will be used annually to fund client
scholarships, independent housing, wheelchair distribution, mental
health services, job placement, and other needs from those receiving
Hope Haven services. According to Buley, a common refrain among
Hope Haven’s supporters is that they wish they could do more. 

“I think about those donors when you see the faithfulness of the
Heerdes, for them to give that kind of money,” Buley said. “its unreal someone did that — take $20 million and not spend it on
themselves. This is a remarkable and humble act.”

 Now, this gold plaque depicting the supportive Heerde family
rests inside Hope Haven’s Spirit Lake building, recognizing and
honor the family’s estate gift. “Their example of stewardship
produced one of the largest farm-land estate gifts ever made in
Iowa,” the plaque states. “We are filled forever with gratitude.”