Where does our time, work and money go ?

Every year, since 1954, Minnesota FFA members have taken a day out of school to go out and ask local farmers for donations of corn. In my own experience of the Corn Drive, I never knew where the money went, who got it, and what it was for. Don't get me wrong, I knew it was called "Corn Drive for Camp Courage", but that meant very little to me, until yesterday when the state officer team visited...

Since 1928, Courage Center has thrived on this mission...

In my high school, being around students with special needs and education was an everyday thing because my student council advisor worked with those students. Yeah, I saw them in school, but it wasn't until visiting Courage Center that I got to see the other side. The daily routine of therapy, examination and waiting parents. Seeing the multitude of people, just like you and me, with different abilities than mine, was a wake up call.

The people who work for Courage Center are incredible individuals, dedicating a large portion of their life to ensuring every single person at Courage Center can reach their full life potential.

In the picture below, we visited the woods and metals shop where many adaptive instruments are made. Things as simple as typing a message on the computer are not so easy for someone regaining fine-motor skills. So, the piece that was created, shown below, goes over a keyboard so instead of hitting more than one key, the person can punch their fingers to pick the one and only key they want.

Think...
What if you had some form of disability ? What impact would it have on your daily life, education, family and personal life ?

If you didn't know, the over $100,000 annually raised by Minnesota FFA chapter Corn Drives goes to support people, young and old, to go to camps where,

"They can feel normal for ONE day."

- as staff member shared.

When I think about my own life, I have been gifted with many abilities and talents. So often, I take them for granted, or I don't even share them others. After visiting Courage Center, I have a strong desire to be more assertive of sharing my abilities with others. So, when the next summer rolls around, I plan to volunteer at Courage Center North, where the camp focuses on individuals with speech, communication and hearing disabilities.