Rock Valley: Small town, big heart
By Michele Linckmlinck@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Ron Bajema packs grease into the wheel bearings of brand-new donated wheelchairs at Hope Haven International Ministries in Rock Valley, Iowa. (Photo by Michele Linck)
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa -- Tucked into the prairie in the northwest corner of Iowa, this robust city of 3,000 takes its slogan, "A Place of Opportunities," seriously.
Rock Valley is home to what seems like a disproportionately large number of ministries that specialize in providing opportunities to those who need them most, whether at home, in the region, across the country or in any of 105 other nations around the world.
In fact, visiting with folks in downtown Rock Valley, it's nearly impossible to encounter someone who is not involved in at least one of the ministries.
Call the mayor of 19 years, Kent Eknes, to find out about business and industry in his city and you learn he's president of the board of Hope Haven Ministries, the organization that proved 45 years ago that service efforts could be started, prosper and expand in a small town equipped with faith, drive, know-how and a generous spirit.
Talk to Dave VanNingen, the CEO of Hope Haven, and you learn his wife, Arlene, heads Love In the Name of Christ-Sioux County, a clearinghouse for food, clothing and other assistance. It's just one of numerous organizations in Rock Valley, many of which draw volunteers from all generations.
Rock Valley is best known for Hope Haven. Founded in 1964, it provides various residential settings, job training and meaningful employment for people with disabilities at facilities in Rock Valley and elsewhere in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Hope Haven's own for-profit company, Double H Manufacturing, makes high-quality hitchpins for industry and agriculture, with profits supporting Hope Haven Ministries and its offshoot, Hope Haven International Ministries. Founded in 1994, Hope Haven International Ministries collects and refurbishes used wheelchairs and manufactures a special chair for children, distributing them to needy people in 105 countries.
Other organizations have followed the trail blazed by Hope Haven.
'It can't be done'
In the late 1950s, VanNingen said, it became apparent that two young brothers living in Rock Valley and afflicted with muscular dystrophy would soon need help with everyday living activities and schooling. A few community leaders decided the town could help them and other children with challenges.
Many people scoffed. "It can't be done," they said.
A committee surveyed similar communities in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota to see if there were enough children in need of services to warrant a special residential school. Hope Haven opened in 1964 with 11 students.
"Before that they that were locked up on farms," said Marlowe Van Ginkel, Hope Haven spokesman. Some were taken care of at the Cherokee (Iowa) Mental Health Institute or kept at home.
By the time Hope Haven started, some of the children originally identified were on the brink of adulthood. Their needs spawned the residential and employment services that are now provided to more than 1,000 clients in more than 30 locations across the region.
A 'community thing'
Asked to explain how such a small seed grew into such a big plant, VanNingen goes back to its roots.
"It really is a community that, for generations, is driven by the value that we have an obligation to give our talents to God's glory," he said. "It's a value we have gotten from our parents. People instill it in their children and grandchildren."
For example, Trinity Christian Reformed Church hosted a Feed My Starving Children Event last month. Water jugs were set around town and in schools. Rock Valley residents donated $18,000, enough to pay for the rice, soy and other ingredients for 105,000 meal packets. All told, 316 adults and 329 students from Rock Valley and neighboring Hull and Doon worked at least one of eight 90-minute shifts to package the food.
Triana Tierney, a customer at the Stone Soup cafe in downtown Rock Valley, said the community has spawned such dynamic ministries because the people in Rock Valley are caring and helpful.
"It's just a whole community thing," explained Stone Soup owner Dotty Dirksen. "I think a lot of the older people, when they retire, want something to do. They are very selfless in giving their time."
Or maybe it's because Rock Valley residents are as stubborn as they are industrious. "If you want it done around here, just tell somebody it isn't possible," VanNingen said.
Rock Valley snapshot
2,935 Population.
115 New homes since 2000.
81 Campsites at Rivers Bend Campground
47.5 Millions of dollars invested in city capital projects, 2002-07.
30 New apartment units.
23 Percent taxable valuation increase from 2001 to 2007.
18 Manufacturing plants employing 1,600 workers.
12 Churches.
11 Businesses/industries in Westview Business Park
6 New housing additions since 2002.
Rock Valley is home to what seems like a disproportionately large number of ministries that specialize in providing opportunities to those who need them most, whether at home, in the region, across the country or in any of 105 other nations around the world.
In fact, visiting with folks in downtown Rock Valley, it's nearly impossible to encounter someone who is not involved in at least one of the ministries.
Call the mayor of 19 years, Kent Eknes, to find out about business and industry in his city and you learn he's president of the board of Hope Haven Ministries, the organization that proved 45 years ago that service efforts could be started, prosper and expand in a small town equipped with faith, drive, know-how and a generous spirit.
Talk to Dave VanNingen, the CEO of Hope Haven, and you learn his wife, Arlene, heads Love In the Name of Christ-Sioux County, a clearinghouse for food, clothing and other assistance. It's just one of numerous organizations in Rock Valley, many of which draw volunteers from all generations.
Rock Valley is best known for Hope Haven. Founded in 1964, it provides various residential settings, job training and meaningful employment for people with disabilities at facilities in Rock Valley and elsewhere in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Hope Haven's own for-profit company, Double H Manufacturing, makes high-quality hitchpins for industry and agriculture, with profits supporting Hope Haven Ministries and its offshoot, Hope Haven International Ministries. Founded in 1994, Hope Haven International Ministries collects and refurbishes used wheelchairs and manufactures a special chair for children, distributing them to needy people in 105 countries.
Other organizations have followed the trail blazed by Hope Haven.
'It can't be done'
In the late 1950s, VanNingen said, it became apparent that two young brothers living in Rock Valley and afflicted with muscular dystrophy would soon need help with everyday living activities and schooling. A few community leaders decided the town could help them and other children with challenges.
Many people scoffed. "It can't be done," they said.
A committee surveyed similar communities in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota to see if there were enough children in need of services to warrant a special residential school. Hope Haven opened in 1964 with 11 students.
"Before that they that were locked up on farms," said Marlowe Van Ginkel, Hope Haven spokesman. Some were taken care of at the Cherokee (Iowa) Mental Health Institute or kept at home.
By the time Hope Haven started, some of the children originally identified were on the brink of adulthood. Their needs spawned the residential and employment services that are now provided to more than 1,000 clients in more than 30 locations across the region.
A 'community thing'
Asked to explain how such a small seed grew into such a big plant, VanNingen goes back to its roots.
"It really is a community that, for generations, is driven by the value that we have an obligation to give our talents to God's glory," he said. "It's a value we have gotten from our parents. People instill it in their children and grandchildren."
For example, Trinity Christian Reformed Church hosted a Feed My Starving Children Event last month. Water jugs were set around town and in schools. Rock Valley residents donated $18,000, enough to pay for the rice, soy and other ingredients for 105,000 meal packets. All told, 316 adults and 329 students from Rock Valley and neighboring Hull and Doon worked at least one of eight 90-minute shifts to package the food.
Triana Tierney, a customer at the Stone Soup cafe in downtown Rock Valley, said the community has spawned such dynamic ministries because the people in Rock Valley are caring and helpful.
"It's just a whole community thing," explained Stone Soup owner Dotty Dirksen. "I think a lot of the older people, when they retire, want something to do. They are very selfless in giving their time."
Or maybe it's because Rock Valley residents are as stubborn as they are industrious. "If you want it done around here, just tell somebody it isn't possible," VanNingen said.
Rock Valley snapshot
2,935 Population.
115 New homes since 2000.
81 Campsites at Rivers Bend Campground
47.5 Millions of dollars invested in city capital projects, 2002-07.
30 New apartment units.
23 Percent taxable valuation increase from 2001 to 2007.
18 Manufacturing plants employing 1,600 workers.
12 Churches.
11 Businesses/industries in Westview Business Park
6 New housing additions since 2002.
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Randy Cauthron wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:41 PM:
While the article focuses on the amazing Hope Have program which words cannot do justice to what it has accomplished and offered, there is so much more to Rock Valley. For a town of 3,000, it is extremely progressive with a great spirit for new business development. People there take care of their own in times of crisis, whether through church or community fundraisers. We left the town for a job opportunity but do return regularly to visit friends and see the continuing changes.
It was a tough place to leave. It was a great place to raise kids with a strong dedication and focus to education - supporting one private and one public elementary, one public high school and Western Christian, as well as one K-12 private school.
There is a spirit of cooperation there for the greater good - and that's not always easy to find.
Many places, like my original home of California, you leave and never look back. I sincerely miss the people and community there. "