Hope Haven Receives Iowa Lakes Electric Charitable Foundation Grant

By 7017444915 June 26, 2026
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10 At Hope Haven, we believe every person has God-given gifts to share. That belief is at the heart of the Hope Haven Ambassadors, a group of individuals served through Hope Haven’s My Day program who are learning to use their voices, share their stories, and advocate for themselves and others. The Ambassadors were formed in January 2025 after a community experience sparked a bigger conversation about inclusion, dignity, and the way individuals with disabilities are perceived. Since then, the group has been working to help change that narrative. The Ambassadors have presented to community groups, attended advocacy trainings, traveled to the Capitol, and spoken about issues that matter. Along the way, they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping others understand that every person deserves to be included and respected. For Maggie, being an Ambassador is about helping her community see people with disabilities as equals. “I want individuals with disabilities to be treated as equal to everybody else,” she shared. “I want my community to know it’s okay to be different.” For Lori, the message is simple but powerful. “We are regular people who have different challenges,” she said. “I want to help my community understand that people with disabilities are not less of a person because of their disabilities.” For Octavio, advocacy means using his voice not only for himself, but also for others who may struggle to speak up for what they need. Through his experience with the Ambassadors, he has learned something important: “Our voice matters.” Programs like My Day are about so much more than daily activities. They are about friendship, confidence, purpose, community, and belonging. They create opportunities for people to discover their strengths, build relationships, serve others, and take part in the world around them. Your support helps us continue creating opportunities like the Hope Haven Ambassadors, where individuals can build confidence, share their stories, and discover the power of their voice. Your gift allows us to keep growing alongside those we serve, making an impact that lasts. If you wish to contribute, plea se CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission .
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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.