Hope Haven International Ministries continues to make worldwide impacts

Finding His Place: Josh's Journey of Growth

By 7017444915 • July 22, 2025
At Hope Haven, we believe in the profound power of transformation. Every individual carries the potential for growth when given the right support and opportunities. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us of this truth: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ Josh Canny’s story is a powerful testament to this belief. His journey of growth and resilience exemplifies how faith and support can lead to extraordinary change. Josh, born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, found his home at Hope Haven at the age of 18. Now 35, his journey illustrates the power of compassion, opportunity, and community. Josh began in Hope Haven’s Parkview workshop, where he struggled to find fulfillment. However, everything changed with the introduction of the My Choice Employment program, offering Josh the chance to explore community employment. He took this opportunity and thrived. Today, Josh works nearly 40 hours a week at Double HH Manufacturing, contributing across multiple departments. From running machines to packaging, Josh’s versatility and uplifting attitude have become invaluable to his team. Austin Vande Vegte, Operations Manager at Double HH, shares, “Josh’s contributions have had a positive impact on our team. His willingness to learn and help across the plant ensures we deliver quality to our customers on time.” Josh’s journey to independence hasn’t been without challenges. Losing his mother at 13 and experiencing an unstable upbringing left him with little structure or support. For a time, he lived with relatives who didn’t encourage his growth. But at Hope Haven, Josh found stability, relationships built on trust, and the structure he needed to thrive. Over the years, Josh has grown immensely—both at work and in life. He now lives independently in Sioux Center, enjoys cooking, video games, and going out to eat or to the movies with his friends. He has transformed into a kind, respectful person; taking pride in his work ethic and relationships. Amanda, Josh’s longtime Double HH Job Coach, reflects, “Josh has grown so much. Watching him mature and succeed has been like seeing family flourish. I am so proud of the person Josh has become.” Josh’s journey from instability to independence is a powerful example of how lives can be transformed through faith, compassion, and community. At Hope Haven, we know that every individual we serve has their own unique story and potential—just like Josh. Our dedicated staff helps individuals realize their potential, providing the support and encouragement they need to thrive. This story of resilience highlights the importance of supporting individuals in difficult circumstances. With your help, more people like Josh can receive the guidance, care, and opportunities they deserve. Your generosity allows us to expand our programs, equip individuals with necessary resources, and foster environments where they can truly flourish. Together, we can make a lasting impact on their lives and the communities they call home. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. At Hope Haven, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and prayers in serving our mission now and in the future.
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A poster for russell dickerson live at the district saturday august 2nd 2025

Russell Dickerson Concert

July 10, 2025
Exciting News! Don’t miss this incredible country concert featuring Russell Dickerson, who quickly stood out from the pack with four consecutive career-starting singles reaching No. One on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Known for hits like “Yours,” “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing,” and “God Gave Me A Girl,” his latest single, “Bones,” is already making waves! Grab your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable night of music! Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 Live at The District I All-Ages Show PIT Doors Open 6:00 PM | GA Doors 6:30 PM | Show Starts 7:30 PM Purchase Tickets Today: CLICK HERE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: PEOPLES BANK | WIRELESS WORLD | FIRST PREMIER BANK About Russell Dickerson Russell Dickerson is known for his electrifying performances and “unstoppable energy fans can’t get enough of” (E! News). After bursting onto the scene, the Tennessee native quickly stood out from the pack as he released four consecutive career-starting singles that reached No. One on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Since then, Dickerson has earned platinum or better status on singles including “Yours” (3X Platinum), “Blue Tacoma” (2X Platinum), “Every Little Thing” (Platinum), “Love You Like I Used To” (Platinum), and “She Likes It” ft. Jake Scott (2X Platinum). Just last year, he clocked his fifth No. One with “God Gave Me A Girl.” This year, he released “Good Day To Have A Great Day,” followed by his latest single “Bones,” which was the biggest radio debut of his career. For more information, visit www.russelldickerson.com .
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Iowa Hawkeye Wide Receiver, Reece Vander Zee, recently spent a day with his family refurbishing wheelchairs at the Hope Haven International Ministries (HHIM) workshop in Rock Valley. The 18-year-old from Rock Rapids is studying business at the University of Iowa and said that volunteerism is important to him.

“It’s definitely important to give people hope and help out wherever you can, no matter how big or small.”

Reece and his five younger siblings — Liam, Blake, Ayda, Nora, and Evan — and their parents, Joe and Merideth, have a homemade ice cream sandwich business, and the family chooses one area ministry each year to support with a portion of the proceeds. This year, they sponsored 15 wheelchairs through HHIM.

“It started similar to a lemonade stand in front of our house,” said Joe, who is the operations manager for HHIM. “It’s continued to grow each year, and part of that business is giving to local ministries. So we encourage the kids to give from that business each year.”

Joe has been the operations manager at HHIM for about a month and a half. He is thoroughly impressed with the organization’s impact, both nationally and internationally.

“I’m quickly learning about all the awesome things that Hope Haven International Ministries does,” he said. “With the wheelchair ministry, specifically, we make wheelchairs, refurbish wheelchairs, and then send them to people in need across the world.”

According to HHIM’s Director, Luke Russell, the ministry was established in 1994 after a Hope Haven board member participated in a mission trip in the Dominican Republic and witnessed a young girl who was unable to walk sitting under a tree.

“I understand that there was a girl who was pretty much left under a tree all day while her father went and worked in the field. Seeing this convicted him, so he came back and asked a simple but bold question at the next board meeting: ‘What are we going to do about this?'”

Today, 31 years later, HHIM has several regional workshops at which volunteers refurbish and manufacture wheelchairs. The wheelchairs refurbished by volunteers are regularly delivered to the workshops by HIMM’s partner ministries located across the country. On the same day the Vander Zees volunteered, the Rock Valley Rockets helped unload a shipment of 250 wheelchairs from Joni & Friends, a partner ministry from California.

“We do a lot of a lot of shipping back and forth with Joni & Friends,” said Joe. “We send them a lot of our KidChairs.”

HHIM partnered with several Dordt University engineering students to design a pediatric wheelchair in 2006 after the ministry’s volunteers began noticing the large need for small wheelchairs. The KidChair comes in two sizes and easily adapts to children’s shapes, sizes, and positioning needs. A crucial part of assembling the pediatric wheelchairs is sewing the seating covers, and there is currently a need for more sewers. The ministry manufactures about 2,500 KidChairs per year across all of the workshops, and this is only possible because of volunteers, explained Joe.

“It costs us $275 to assemble a chair, but it’s really about a $1,500 chair,” he said. “That’s only possible because of our volunteers.”

Since its inception, HHIM has shipped nearly 148,000 wheelchairs to 109 countries. In addition to sending wheelchair shipments to other ministries around the world, HHIM sends teams of volunteers on distribution trips and has five distribution trips planned for 2025. According to Joe, the organization is planning on traveling to Costa Rica twice, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Each volunteer team includes physical therapists and other specialists who are skilled in fitting wheelchairs to individuals. Once an individual is fitted for a wheelchair, his or her family is educated on how to assist the individual when using the chair.

HHIM’s Russell went on a distribution trip to Peru last year and met eight-year-old Isabella, who traveled eight hours with her father by bus to receive a wheelchair.

“Her dad had carried her everywhere for eight years,” he said. “When we tried to sit her in a wheelchair, she clung to him; she did not want to be separated from him. We talked with her for quite a while, and after watching the other kids wheel around in their wheelchairs, she gave it a try and was thrilled. Her dad, who appeared to be a stoic man, began crying. Isabella is now able to attend school because she has a wheelchair. There’s such an enormous need for wheelchairs around the world and, more importantly, for people to hear about the love of Christ. That’s the impetus for us.”

Written by Kelly Vander Pol, Rock Valley Bee