Hope Haven Receives Iowa Lakes Electric Charitable Foundation Grant

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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Hope Haven recently received a $2 375 grant from Iowa Lakes Electric Members Charitable Foundation’s “Operation Round Up” grant. The grant will provide a sensory lounger at Hope Haven’s Faith Hope & Charity (FHC) division in Storm Lake IA.

Children served at FHC often deal with sensory issues that disrupt the way they respond to sensations which severely impact their daily activities and quality of life. The sensory lounger will provide rapid deep touch pressure interventions which act as a calming focusing agent for individuals dealing with sensory integration problems.

Faith Hope & Charity is an ICF/ID home for children ages 2-21. ICF/ID is a 24 hour a day total care service providing housing meals activities nursing recreation skill building community interaction and many other services needed by the children served.

Operation Round Up is a strictly voluntary program where members round up their electric bills to the next nearest dollar and those monies are used to assist worthy causes and organizations in our local communities. The Iowa Lakes Electric Members Charitable Foundation Board of Directors is made up of volunteer members from each of the eight counties in Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative’s service territory. The Iowa Lakes Electric Member Charitable Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 Corporation that administers the funds from Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program.