Heber Valley Life

Tag: volunteer

  • ROAM Humanitarian

    ROAM Humanitarian

    “I’ve always felt my purpose is to be a connector — between people who want to serve, and those across the world who need help.” — Lindsay Bowen, Founder, ROAM Humanitarian

    A Movement Born from Connection

    When the world shut its doors in 2020, Lindsay Bowen seized the opportunity to open a different kind of door—one that reached out across borders and cultures.

    From her home in the mountains of Heber Valley, Lindsay founded ROAM Humanitarian, a nonprofit that combines service, cultural immersion, and adventure into a life-changing experience for both giver and receiver.

    “I wanted to create something that didn’t just build projects,” Lindsay said. “I wanted to build people.”

    Since its founding, ROAM Humanitarian has led 34 expeditions in 10 countries, carrying out projects that have improved the lives of nearly 65,000 people. Each journey combines sustainable humanitarian work with local partnerships, creating change that lasts long after volunteers return home.

    The ROAM Experience

    Every nine-day expedition invites participants—affectionately called Roamers—to travel deeper. Whether it’s teaching in a village classroom, repairing wells, or providing small-business grants to women, every moment is designed to connect hearts and cultures.

    “We’re not there to pat ourselves on the back,” Lindsay explained. “We’re there to help people help themselves.”

    Families, students, and corporate teams travel together, working, digging, building, laughing, and often crying side-by-side. Many participants describe it as the most meaningful trip of their lives—a rare combination of purpose and adventure that changes the way they see the world.

    Tanzania: The Beating Heart of ROAM

    Of all the destinations, Tanzania holds a special place in Lindsay’s heart. In the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, ROAM has developed deep relationships with local leaders and communities.

    “When we first came to Tanzania, we were invited into villages where people had never seen outsiders before,” Lindsay recalled. “We started small—building chicken coops, repairing wells—but we quickly realized the challenges women and girls were facing.”

    In rural areas, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) remain common cultural practices, despite being outlawed. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “These girls are 12 or 13, married to men in their fifties. Their parents receive a dowry, and the girls lose their futures.”

    In response, ROAM began construction on a Women’s Center, a safe haven for women and girls escaping abuse and forced marriage. The center will provide housing, education, business training, and medical care, giving them the tools to build new lives.

    “If they choose a new life, we give them the skills to build it,” Lindsay said.

    “It’s the first time anyone has believed in them.”

    Adjacent to the center, Lindsay and her husband, Justin, are building a ‘training’ hotel, where women can work in hospitality, cooking, and tourism—Tanzania’s leading industries. Graduates of the program will leave with employment, confidence, and hope.

    A Story of Loss and Purpose

    Not all stories have happy endings, but they fuel ROAM’s resolve. One woman, Cindy Dottie, tried to protect her 11-year-old daughter by hiding her from an FGM ceremony. When discovered, her husband beat both mother and child, throwing Cindy into a fire. She later died from her injuries, leaving three children behind.

    “That’s what happens when we don’t get there in time,” Lindsay said quietly. “That’s why this center matters. If she’d had somewhere to go, she would still be alive.”

    Despite the heartbreak, Lindsay chooses hope. “I’ve seen women go from hopelessness to joy,” she said. “Their eyes change—they have light again. That’s what keeps me going.”

    Fast Facts

    Founded: 2020 by Lindsay & Justin Bowen

    Headquarters:
    Heber, Utah

    Countries Served: Peru, Tanzania, Bali, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Cambodia, Nepal

    2024 Impact:

    • 12 expeditions
    • 95 projects completed
    • 389 volunteers (“Roamers”)
    • 17,036 lives touched

    Mission: To create meaningful, sustainable change through service and cultural connection — empowering communities to thrive long after volunteers return home.

    Sustainable Projects That Last

    • Women’s Empowerment & Business Grants
    • Clean Water Initiatives and Wells
    • Chicken Coop and Livestock Projects
    • Classroom & Home Construction
    • Health Education and Menstruation Kits
    • Vision Screenings and Eye Care
    • Anyorr Handmade Jewelry Collective for Single Mothers

    Partnerships That Make a Difference

    ROAM’s success depends on local partners who know the people they serve and see first-hand the needs in their community. Like Benja and Happiness, siblings who work full-time in Tanzania, identifying needs and coordinating logistics.

    “Humanitarian work is all about relationships and trust,” Lindsay said. “It’s not us telling them what they need—it’s us listening.”

    Together, they’ve built homes for orphans, brought clean water to villages by repairing and drilling wells, distributed water filters, and provided sewing machines and education grants that empower self-reliance.

    “I tell my team in Africa,” Lindsay shared, “I’ll work tirelessly here to find the funding, and you work tirelessly there to find the people. Together, we’re unstoppable.”

    From Charity to Sustainability

    ROAM’s model focuses on empowerment, not dependency. From chicken coop businesses that feed children and generate income to the Anyorr Handmade Jewelry Collective (Anyorr means love in Masai)—where 26 single mothers create handmade pieces sold in the U.S., most recently at Swiss Days in Midway. Every project gives ownership and dignity.

    “We’re not saviors—we’re equals,” Lindsay emphasized. “We teach, we invest, and then we stand back and watch them soar.”

    The outcomes are striking. Orphanages previously dependent on donations now generate sufficient income to provide children with three nutritious meals a day and fund their education. Women who once had no resources now run thriving micro-businesses.

    Why People Keep Coming Back

    Many who travel with ROAM return again and again. “Once someone goes on a trip, they’re hooked,” Lindsay said with a smile. “They see life differently. They realize what really matters.”

    Participants come from all over the U.S., but a surprising number  (nearly a third) are from Heber Valley. “We have so many locals who love Tanzania,” she said. “They go once and then bring their friends or their kids. It becomes a family tradition of service.”

    The trips vary from youth expeditions and women’s retreats to corporate and family journeys, but the impact is universal.

    “It’s the happiest and saddest I’ve ever been,” Lindsay said. “It changes you.”

    “We teach, we invest, and then we stand back and watch them soar.”

    A Call to ROAM

    As Lindsay reflected on the years since that first journey, her voice softened. “This work is beautiful and brutal,” she said. “But I know too much now to ever stop.”

    Through tears and triumphs, ROAM Humanitarian continues to build something extraordinary—not just homes and schools, but hope itself.

    “When you change a woman,” Lindsay said, “you change the world.”

    Learn more: roamhumanitarian.org

    How You Can Help Join the Movement

    Travel with ROAM on a nine-day humanitarian expedition and experience firsthand how service can transform lives—including your own.

    Donate

    If travel isn’t possible, your contribution can still change a life. Every dollar goes directly to projects that create lasting impact such as:

    • ROAM Education Center & Orphanage | Tanzania
    • Women’s Center Construction | Nepal
    • Boys’ Orphanage Dormitories | Tanzania
    • Library and Kindergarten School Construction | Fiji
    • Battered Women’s Shelter Renovation | Brazil
    • Garbage Dump Community Projects | Bali
    • Well-Drilling | Tanzania
    • Trafficked Children Awareness Projects | Nepal
    • Elderly Connection and Projects | Tanzania and Brazil
    • Vision screenings, eyeglass distribution, cataract surgeries | Worldwide
    • Menstruation Classes with reusable menstruation products | Worldwide
    • Orphanage Repairs and Renovations | Worldwide
  • Heber Valley Heritage Initiative

    Heber Valley Heritage Initiative

    How fortunate we are to live in this valley of breathtaking beauty and wonderful people, both present and past. The history of the greater Heber valley is rich and varied, including individuals and families who have exhibited qualities of courage, faith and determination.

    An organization has been formed called the “Heber Valley Heritage Foundation”, led by Michael Moulton along with a team committed to the preservation of the history and stories of the great people who settled here. Current technology is making this dream more achievable than in years past.

    We are pleased to announce work is well underway to digitize the significant heroic opus of work by Dr. Raymond R. Green, complied over 40 years. This collection of documents, photos, articles, certificates, personal and family histories, and stories will now be available for all to reference. It is a treasure for all to enjoy.

    “The Dr. Raymond R. Green Community Digitization Center” has been established and will offer free digitalization of documents, photos, and other memorabilia to our community. It will be walk-in center. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

    The center will operate entirely with volunteer help. Resources are needed in terms of volunteer hours and funding, to preserve the historical documents and stories that are being assembled, but it will be a wonderful opportunity to serve the community. We encourage those who are willing to help this work in any way, to contact Michael Moulton at [email protected]

    It has been said that we must make it possible to easily seek counsel from past generations. We feel this project will preserve treasured information and history to both current and future residents of this very special and beautiful place.

  • Latinos In Action

    Latinos In Action

    On November 6, the City CAMS committee hosted a cleanup of the City Office Building grounds. Volunteers were asked to bring their pruning shears, brooms, rakes and gloves to get the landscape ready for the winter. It was a perfectly crisp fall morning; the chill of the night was just being overcome by the sun making it warm enough to keep the frost from your fingers and toes.

     There were a small handful of volunteers at first, in addition to the City Manager, Matt Brower, and City Councilwoman Rachel Kaehler. We began pulling out the plants that we hoped were annuals and trimming back the assumed perennials. All were consistent in their efforts but there weren’t too many of us and I was thinking it would take a good portion of the day to accomplish the task! Enter the Latinos In Action class from Timpanogos Middle School to save the day – or at least the service project.

    I had my head down over the Black-Eyed Susans when they arrived without a leader, about 10 of them, and went straight to work piling the leaves, pulling annuals, and scooping up armfuls of trimmed waste into bags. They easily cut an hour or two from the time it would have taken the rest of us to accomplish the task if they hadn’t been there. They had positive and respectful attitudes, and following the project, while they waited for their lunch, I made a point to go talk to them for a few minutes.

    I told them how impressed I was that they would show up on a Saturday morning for something like this, to which one young man responded that he had nothing better to do and woke up early so he figured he may as well come. Not entirely the answer of a philanthropist, but I know many young teens who would gladly choose the option to do nothing. They shared that they are part of a for-credit class that meets every other day, under the instruction of Mr. Scott Bardin. The idea of the class is to find opportunities to serve the community. The students are required to complete 10 hours each quarter for their grade and this was just one way they could fulfill some of those hours. Other ways they have found include volunteering at the school by taking out garbage, facilitating Parent-Teacher Conference nights, and some light cleaning.

    It was time for me to get home so I told the students thank you again and said goodbye to the other volunteers. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve; the grounds are ready for the snow; and I was able to learn about an incredible group of kids right here in our community.

    Thank you to all who came and for the CAMS committee for facilitating the event in the continued effort to keep the Heber Valley a desirable place to live, work, and visit.

  • Wasatch Community Foundation

    Wasatch Community Foundation

    In recent years Wasatch County has undergone a tremendous amount of change. As the people who live in this beautiful valley we’ve had to take a deeper look at what we, the community, care about. American author, and huge proponent for community, Margaret J. Wheatley once said, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” I believe, during this ever-changing process of discovery, one thing has remained consistent; we care about each other. We care about community. Because we know what we care about — we, the community of Wasatch County, are capable of great change! We are capable of lifting others up regardless of our differences. We are capable of building a community that is better each day than it was the day before. We are capable of being the good we want to see in the world.

    Our community has always strived to serve, so — it’s no wonder that for years Wasatch County had numerous organizations trying to fill the needs of our residents. It’s also no surprise that so many would want to volunteer; donating their time, services, goods, and money; but to which organization? And how did one make sure that their donations were going to help those within Wasatch County? What if you wanted your donations to go towards supporting a specific group or project? And, what if you were the one that needed assistance — which organization did you go to for help? The process seemed overwhelming for many donors and confusing for recipients. In 2005 a group of dedicated volunteers set out to create an easier path, forming the Wasatch Community Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to connect residents who want to donate, to residents in need — from the community, for the community.

    According to their website, “Wasatch Community Foundation is . . . the largest all-volunteer, non-profit organization in Heber Valley.” Cassandra Smith, Director of Marketing, shared, “This is an all volunteer organization. We all live in Heber Valley; we all handpicked Wasatch County as our destination for living, we are all very committed to keeping our community as a place where people feel welcomed and can enjoy and feel safe and happy, and that goes for everyone that lives here.” Cassandra’s voice is full of emotion as she expresses the passion board members share for those living in Wasatch County, “We know that healthy families make happy communities and we want . . . the people in our community to feel welcome, and heard, and lifted, and loved . . . this foundation is a way for us to help, a way for us to give back.”

    The mission of Wasatch Community Foundation is to advance the well-being of Wasatch County residents by uniting community resources and programs through the following pillars: Human Services, Health, Education, Recreation, and Arts. According to Tom Fowler, Board Chair and Health Pillar Chair, “There is a chair for each one of those pillars. They each have their own committee that has established their own vision and mission statement to establish their objectives.” Over the last fifteen years WCF has grown and changed to better serve the community’s needs. One of those changes is the implementation of the five pillars. Cassandra explained that, “These pillars were not decided on a whim. We spent a lot of time discussing and researching, and made our decision very carefully. [Using the philosophy of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs] we started at the very bottom; everyone needs food and shelter; moving up you need an education and a job, and we have those things covered in our education and human resources pillars; then continuing to entertainment [the Recreation and Art pillars], which actually helps to self actualize people as they move up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We use the pillars to match each of those stages as your developing into a self actualized individual and a happy healthy family.”

    If you visit the Wasatch Community Foundation’s website (ourwcf.org) the first thing that greets you are the words; “Happy, Healthy Families Make Extraordinary Communities” written in bold letters and scrolled across a photo of two smiling faces. This simple sentence conveys the ethos of the foundation and everything WCF strives to do. In their earlier years, Jim Richie (one of WCF’s founders) and the foundation were instrumental in spearheading the UVU satellite campus, and helping to fund the Heber Valley Dialysis Center, and the Recreation Center. Through the years the foundation has also played an integral part ensuring that everyone who lives in Wasatch County has the basic necessities to be healthy. WCF partners with groups like Friends for Sight, Community in Action, CCPC, CCPC Heber Valley, St. Mary’s of the Assumption, St. Lawrence Church, Wasatch County School District, and others to provide dental, vision, hearing, and wellness exams and follow-ups to children who are returning to school without health insurance, food services to community members, students and their families, and cold-weather clothing to those in need. Recently the foundation brought together three of five different Christmas gift programs and created one program. Marilyn Fowler, Director and Admin, shared; “What it did was stop redundancy and competition for funds, allowing those events and programs to be more successful and more unified.”

    Unification is the goal and perhaps one of the best examples of this is Wasatch Community Foundation’s Thanksgiving Dinner. This annual event strives to bring everyone in the community together — and they mean every one! From the Mayor to the current Rodeo Queen, to the police and banjo strumming cowboy bands, to senior citizens and your neighbor, your next-of-kin, and you! WCF works together with the hospital, health clinic, and high school to provide a free hot meal and fun-filled evening to anyone in the community who wants to join in. The dinner is held in the high school auditorium and the amazing high school chefs cook all the food. The foundation takes care of all expenses involved so that there is no cost to the high school. Tom gives the run-down; “We have the police there, giving away stuffed animals so that the kids become familiar with them. We have a photo booth to take pictures. The hospital provides shots, blood pressure testing, and other tests. We have a coat and glove drive for people to bring in coats, pants, gloves, hats, and it’s all separated by size. People can come in and get supplies for their kids. It’s a huge success. We have one or two of the Cowboy Poetry bands come and play the whole time, people get up and dance and have a lot of fun.” At first, the idea was to provide a meal for residents unable to enjoy a family Thanksgiving dinner but as plans progressed the foundation decided they wanted it to be “a celebration so that people from all walks of life would come.” A celebration where anyone, regardless of their situation, could feel welcomed, heard, lifted, and loved.

    Ending on that note would be lovely; but much like the Grinch in the children’s story by Dr. Seuss who took, “. . . the Who’s feast . . . pudding . . . roast beast . . . cleaned out the ice box as quick as a flash [and] even took their last can of Who hash.” COVID crept into our community and quick as a flash our lives changed. Many of our residents lost jobs or had to close their businesses, our children could no longer attend school, we were told to stay away from our elderly, and eventually each other. The necessities of life were suddenly in short supply; many questioned how they were going to pay their mortgage or rent, how were they going to purchase food. While the run on toilet paper may have provided comic relief to some — the reality was — most were nervous about what this pandemic meant and what the future would hold. Everyone in our community suddenly became in need of something. Along with other organizations and individuals, Wasatch Community Foundation did what they do best — they went to work making connections with those in the community who could give and those in our community who needed to receive. The foundation partnered with CCPC and St. Mary’s to raise over $130,000 for Wasatch County residents needing help to pay rent, mortgages, utilities, etc. Marilyn had a huge impact on the program as she worked tirelessly finding families (through the school district and other sources) and helping connect them with St. Mary’s. Families were vetted, and lenders were asked to reduce payments, a one-time payment of $500 was then sent directly to the business. Over 200 families in Wasatch County were served through this collaboration. As COVID continued into the summer months the schools were concerned about the logistics of getting lunches to those students, using the school lunch program, who lived far away. The foundation stepped in and as Marilyn described, “We said, ‘Okay — we’re going to take care of that!’ [With the help of many volunteers] we distributed over 2,200 lunches to students that couldn’t make it to the schools. Our [local] restaurants got involved too. John Platt owner of Midway Mercantile Restaurant and our Human Services Chair, Renee [Burkley] worked together; John called the restaurants and every week one or two restaurants would provide hot meals for fifty families! Each of these restaurants would make the food and deliver it to the food pantry, families had to have a card, and they would pick up their food. This program was a great help to our valley.”

    Helping our valley is what Wasatch Community Foundation is all about and although some events, like the Thanksgiving dinner, have gone the way of the ‘Who hash’ for a season; they will return. This year the foundation will be collaborating with CCPC to provide turkeys and a bag of additional Thanksgiving dinner items to families in our valley. Moving forward the foundation has great things planned. Tom stated, “The foundation can do big things for this valley and I think that we have the right board and structure to allow us to focus on projects, programs, and events in specific areas in this valley.” Projects like developing new trail systems, building an art center and an ice-rink, programs like developing a Trade School opportunity for High School students in collaboration with UVU, or a yearly community meet-and-greet event for businesses, non-profits, and community members, are just a few of the ideas residents have shared they’d like to see within our valley. Wasatch Community Foundation’s goal is to bring the people and organizations needed to make these desires a reality together. Tom explains, “The foundation helps with unifying groups and helping in whatever capacity is needed. We support all of Wasatch County — we have a broad approach as to how we meet our mission through our pillars.”

    Wasatch Community Foundation’s motto says it best; “Happy, healthy families create extraordinary communities.” Wasatch County is extraordinary because as a community we know what we care about — we care about each other.

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