LIFE Mower County

01/10/2026

Lunch, Arcade and Duckpin Bowling

12/30/2025

The second half of our Winter Break Day Camp was full of fun, creativity, and winter adventures! Campers enjoyed popcorn, hot chocolate, and cookies for snack, followed by a dance party, more games, and two short movies. We also bundled up for some outdoor fun at the Salvation Army Thrift Store parking lot, where campers had a blast playing in the snow and creating snow paintings (Thank you Mother Nature for some snow!).

A huge thank you to Bernie N, Amanda L, Laura J, Julie S, and Chelsea W for running our first-ever Winter Break Day Camp and making it such a great experience for everyone involved.

We are already working on scheduling a Spring Break Day Camp! If you have ideas or suggestions, please email Bernie at autism@lifemowercounty.org. We would love your input!

12/30/2025

Winter Break Day Camp with Autism Friendly Austin is off to a great start! ❄️
The first half of the day was filled with games, arts and crafts, snacks, hanging out in the Sensory Oasis, and lunch together. Now our campers have headed to the park to play in the snow and paint it with bright colors.

Be sure to watch for a post later today highlighting our afternoon activities!

12/30/2025

Thank You, Hormel Foundation!

We are incredibly grateful to the Hormel Foundation for awarding LIFE Mower County $43,000 to support a staff position and program support for Autism Friendly Austin in 2026.

This generous investment will help ensure continued access to inclusive recreation nights, camps, and community events for children and youth with autism and other diverse abilities. Because of the Hormel Foundation’s commitment to our community, we can continue creating welcoming, supportive, and meaningful experiences where everyone belongs.

Thank you for believing in inclusion and for helping LIFE Mower County and Autism Friendly Austin make a lasting impact in Austin and Mower County.

12/30/2025

Thank you to the Austin Area Foundation for your continued support of LIFE Mower County.

We are grateful to have been awarded $1,350 to purchase two new laptops that will directly support our day-to-day operations and community programming. These laptops will replace outdated devices and allow our staff to work more efficiently and securely.

One laptop will be used at events to electronically track participant and volunteer attendance, improving recordkeeping, reporting, and overall event management. The second laptop will support on-site programming, including presentations, bingo nights, and other group activities. These upgrades will help us deliver more organized, engaging, and accessible experiences for everyone we serve.

Pictured (left to right): Steve Barrett, Executive Director of the Austin Area Foundation, and Dawn Helgeson, Executive Director of LIFE Mower County.

Thank you for investing in technology that strengthens our programs and helps us better support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.

12/29/2025

Due to the winter weather, the LIFE Mower County office is closed today. Please remember that the Winter Break Day Camp has been moved to Tuesday, and all registered participants have already been contacted. We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize everyone’s safety.

12/23/2025

The January-February 2026 VISIONS newsletter has been published and is now available to view or download at www.lifemowercounty.org/news. If you receive a paper version, it has been mailed, but please allow time for it to reach your home. To help LIFE Mower County save on postage and paper, we encourage you to contact us to discontinue the mailed version and instead receive a notice when the newsletter is available online. You can access the latest updates and stories at your convenience by visiting www.lifemowercounty.org/news.

12/23/2025

LIFE Mower County will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and Our Place Recreation Center will turn 40. These milestones are a wonderful reminder of how long we’ve been supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Mower County. To make these celebrations unforgettable, we’re forming a special planning committee that will meet quarterly throughout 2026. We’re looking for people who care about our mission, enjoy planning events, and want to help honor our past while looking toward the future. If you’re interested in being part of this exciting team, please email Jamey at jamey@lifemowercounty.org.

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays from LIFE Mower County

Wishing our participants, families, staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

Thank you for being part of the LIFE Mower County family and for your continued support, kindness, and commitment to inclusion throughout the year.

May this season bring warmth, connection, and moments to celebrate all that we share. We look forward to another year of learning, inclusion, fun, and empowerment together.

With gratitude and best wishes,
LIFE Mower County

12/20/2025