Team Building Experiences: Escape Room

A Place to Belong: Jon's Story

By 7017444915 • February 24, 2026
Home looks different for everyone. For Jon, home is now the place he shares with his sister, Shelly. Jon was already living in Shelly’s home when she became one of Hope Haven’s first Host Home providers. What started as a practical next step quickly grew into something far more meaningfu l. As Shelly shared, “Opening our home to Jon was a blessing we didn’t know we needed.” Through Hope Haven’s Host Home program, individuals with disabilities live in the homes of carefully selected providers who offer guidance, companionship, and everyday support. Host Homes are just one of several residential options at Hope Haven, alongside staffed community living homes, because no two individuals require the same level or style of care. What matters most is creating a place where people can live safely, grow their independence, and feel truly included. For Jon, that environment means being part of everyday family life, whether that’s grocery shopping and shared meals or being able to help with Shelly’s in-home daycare. “Living here makes me feel happy,” Jon says. For Shelly’s family, the experience has been transformative. “We’ve all become more patient and understanding,” she shares. “My boys have learned gratitude, acceptance, and what it means to truly welcome someone into your life.” That mutual impact is what makes Host Homes unique. “It doesn’t feel like a job,” Shelly explains. “It’s more of a relationship. You get to help someone feel independent, yet safe.” She was quick to add that the impact goes both ways. As she puts it, “You just might meet your best friend.” Because of supporters like you, individuals like Jon have the opportunity to live in a home where they are supported and valued — not just as clients, but as people. Your generosity makes it possible for Hope Haven to offer a range of residential supports, creating safe, stable, relationship-centered living options for individuals with disabilities right here in our communities. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10 If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today.  Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission.
Show More
A group of people are playing instruments on a stage in front of a crowd.

Dueling Duo’s: Keys to Love

By Hope Haven • October 24, 2025
February 13, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
A large group of people are sitting at long tables in a large room.

Benefit Auction

By nicole.andree • October 6, 2025
March 27, 2026
More Posts →

By now most of you have probably heard of the “escape rooms” offered in Sioux Falls and other places as a fun activity for families friends and co-workers. The premise? Get locked in a room with your nearest and dearest with a puzzle to solve before time runs out. I’ve wanted to try out this activity since I first started hearing about them so when Life 96.5 announced they were giving away chances for non-profit organizations to participate in the mobile version of “The Escape Unit ” I registered the Orange City office in a heartbeat.

And we won!

Two short weeks later our Community Living team sat outside The Escape Unit trailer enjoying a delicious lunch courtesy of the Pita Pit (also part of the winning package) before it was our time to enter. We didn’t know what to expect because the puzzles for escape rooms vary; sometimes they involve reaching a distant object with only the tools you are given decoding a cipher determining the lock combination or as it turned out in our case defusing a (make-believe) bomb.

Our mission which we were happy to accept was to get through all the clues to diffuse the explosive and save our town from destruction. Luckily my group and I are no strangers to challenges surprises and problem-solving. We approached each task with enthusiasm intelligence and a sense of humor. Despite our best and brightest efforts however were ultimately unsuccessful in disarming the bomb in time (sorry Orange City). 

The larger lesson was obvious: the escape room reminded us what strengths we each brought to the team how to lean on each other when needed and how to laugh when the best efforts went awry. While it’s unfortunate we had to blow up our lovely hometown in the process it was a great experience that helped us grow as a group—and one I would recommend to any organization or family looking to strengthen connections and have a little fun.

We ended the day with Culver’s ice cream (concrete mixers seemed appropriate). 

Huge thanks to Life 96.5  Pita Pit and Culver’s for a day none of us will soon forget. And thankfully the town of Orange City escaped unscathed.