Making A Difference
Tractor Parade-Thanks to Wayne Grannis, Farm Bureau
Our Mission
Lighthouse Farm believes every individual should be provided training and resources to pursue their own happiness. Our mission is to be a beacon for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by training and coordinating access to personalized services that positively contribute to their quality of life.
God's Plan
Our Story
Children come to us in many ways during our lives, my children all came to me at different times in my own life and each with a different purpose required of myself. My second daughter required some different patience than my first, but little did I know she would cast me along the greatest journey God could have guided me on. In the beginning God guided me to become a special education teacher; but at that time I thought I knew more than he did and continued my path teaching at a Christian School. If you haven’t learned yet, let me tell you…your life will fall in shambles when you become disobedient of the Almighty’s plan and path for you. After losing my mother and inheriting her farm shortly after our joint baptism, a couple of job switches, distancing myself from God and a divorce later, God decided to yell at me this time. My daughter needed more help than the schools in our area were able to provide or were willing to provide; therefore I became a special education teacher. My daughter began to flourish and silly me…..how could I ever have imagined that would be the completion of my mission? God spoke to me again, and this time gave me a 4th child. One of my former students, with a more severe form of Autism, suddenly entered the foster system…..so I became a foster parent. After she began to flourish, I foolishly believed I had again attained the mission God had set out before me. And then an amazing thing happened one day while having a conversation with my father, I saw it. I saw the plan God had for me, but I didn’t quite know exactly how it would work yet. I was going to use my mother’s farm and build a facility for adults with disabilities, my daughter will need somewhere to go once she can no longer attend school and none of my other children have a desire to farm land. I finally understood what was needed, now I had to get there. Life is never that simple however; and after losing my father recently and inheriting even more farm land it became apparent that God was telling me to stop waiting. But of course that couldn’t be all, I re married and with that God granted me my 5th child, whom of which lives with Down Syndrome. The need for this facility became even direr and the stars seemed to be aligning and then there was a light…a guiding light. This guiding light led me to find the means to leave my job, which I loved dearly, to follow God’s command. Now we are a business, Lighthouse Farms, and we are on our way to becoming a beacon for all adults with disabilities to provide them with a better quality of life. Construction is on the horizon and soon our light shall shine for all to see through the dark night.
Services
Empowering Individuals with Disabilities
Life Skills Development
All students have their life management skills levels assessed upon beginning the program in order to determine the appropriate level of services. Our goal is that each young adult in our program develops the life skills needed to transition to independent living.
Practical life skills are crucial skills that encourage independent and successful living. We prepare young adults to live independently by teaching the following skills:
Budgeting and money skills
Cooking
Cleaning
Personal care
Physical health through nutrition and exercise
Skills for obtaining a job
Time management and scheduling
Etiquette and many other skills
Pre-employment Training
Educating people with disabilities proper pre-employment skills to improve their ability to achieve supported or competitive employment in their community.
Pre-employment training services are intended to develop and teach general skills. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and customers
Generally accepted community workplace conduct and dress
Ability to follow directions
Ability to attend to tasks
Workplace problem-solving skills and strategies
General workplace safety and mobility training
Social Skills and Relationship Building
Many young adults who need a transitional program have struggled with forming and maintaining healthy social relationships. We work enhance their ability to build relationships with family members, make positive friendships, interact with peers, feel confident to engage with the outside world.
Lighthouse Farm has a strong emphasis on cultivating a positive, supportive peer community. Program participants get to know each other as they attend and participate in activities, meals, and events together. In addition, we support individuals who are prone to isolating or withdrawing to build their capacity to trust, reach out, and engage with their peers.
Our staff also helps to develop the well-rounded interpersonal skills required to have successful social interactions, prepare for the workforce, and master the life skills needed to live independently. We also encourage active engagement in the community and assist them in building the skills to successfully volunteer in local organizations and participate in community recreation. Some of our social activities include:
Dinning Out
Community Trips
Bowling
Games
Dear Children, Let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1 JOHN 3:18
Ways to Help
Take Action Now
Partner with Us
Have an Impact
Our organization always appreciates the generosity and involvement of people like you, with every contribution going towards making Lighthouse Farm an even better Christian Organization than it already is. We want to provide you with the correct and appropriate information pertaining to your mode of support, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions.
Volunteer Your Time
Help Us Soar
This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. This is an easy and efficient way of contributing to the great work we do at Lighthouse Farm. Get in touch with any questions about how you can Volunteer Your Time today.
Make a Donation
Show Your Support
Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? Make a Donation and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to lend your support. It’s a great way to contribute to our cause, and every little bit counts towards paving the path for a better tomorrow. Get in touch with us today for more details about how you can help.
Contact Lighthouse Farm
