WHY GIVE

A gift to CVM makes a difference in the life & development of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Although we receive funding from the county, state, & federal resources, Camphill Village MN still relies on private donations. These private donations cover approximately 15% of the annual operating budget & 100% of our capital renovations each year.

WAYS TO GIVE

Make a gift online

CHECK - Made payable to CVM or Camphill Village Minnesota Camphill Village Minnesota ATTN: KMB Office 15136 Celtic Dr Sauk Centre, MN 56378

For additional ways to give, please call the office at 320.732.6365

CAPITAL PLAN

One of our most significant program renovations of this year’s capital plan is a $50,000 renovation of our 75 year-old barn.  The barn is vital for our sustenance and land work initiatives as well as providing an important outside source of income to support the village.  It is also, with its age, a sacred part of our farming heritage.

As someone who has been connected to Camphill Village Minnesota over the last 30 years , including as a  coworker and now a board president- What has been unique about Camphill Village MN‘s development over these 30 years?

Actually I have been connected with Camphill for over 35 years. Of course, many of the people who were involved back then have died. Their names are too numerous to write down in this space, but each of them, whether villager, coworker, board member, parent or other connection left an indelible mark on the community. At one level Camphill is a non-profit with all the financial, legal and other requirements of any non-profit, but the intentionality of living together as a community with people of differing abilities is, in my experience, unique.

What makes Camphill Village Minnesota so consistent for the villager residents who live here?

The villagers are in many ways the heart of Camphill. Of course, others are needed to make life possible here, but the villagers, through their openness, tend to be very social beings. It’s almost as if the villagers call together a community around them saying, “Come and join us. We need you and you need us to make a community.” There have been a lot of changes in the co-workers over the years, but there has always been a commitment to caring for each other as human beings, caring for the earth and creating a community of human beings. Often times you may see a person with special needs for a short period of time, but when you live with someone for some years you can see a gradual maturing that is quite amazing.

What about being a village coworker changed you? 

I lived in Camphill with my family for five years, a relatively short time in the great scheme of things, but the impact on my, and my wife’s life, has been profound. We came to Camphill in our late 30’s and we had already been involved in Waldorf schools (a sister movement to Camphill also based on Rudolf Steiner’s work). So, the ideas on which Camphill are founded were not new to us. For me, what came into my life was the depth of community and the realization that each person is much more than meets the eye. Living and working with people with special needs made me aware that we all have special needs and in trying to meet someone else’s needs my own needs are often met. To this day our daily family rhythms are deeply influenced by our Camphill experience: a song or prayer before a meal, celebrating the festivals, practicing Biodynamic gardening, and much more. Serving as Board President feels like a way of paying back all the richness that Camphill has given me. Plus, it gives me an excuse to travel up to the village for lunch with the crew.

What about this unique model of people living in a community of differently abled residents gives insight into what is possible for us all going forward? 

It seems as if most people I run into are seeking deeper human connection and community. Living closely with any group of people is not easy, but having a common purpose helps to overcome the differences we encounter. There is so much in our modern society that hinders community. I’m not sure that Camphill would scale up to a huge size, but it is so important to have such a movement in our midst to remind us of our humanity at its best.

Let me tell you a story of my time at Camphill. In the last few years we were in the Village I was responsible for insurance oversight. Several times I had a visit from an insurance adjuster from workman's comp to determine our rate. The same man came several years in a row and each time he wore his sunglasses the whole time. My impression was that this was not to protect his eyes but to avoid eye contact. Because the co-workers were considered full-time volunteers, I think he couldn’t really figure us out. He was very brusque and seemed uncomfortable with the situation. The last time I met with him, he came into my office, took off his sunglasses, looked directly at me, and asked, “Tell me, what is it you do here?” After a conversation about life at Camphill I ventured to ask him what was going on in his life. With a smile, he told me that he had had a near death experience and, basically, realized what a jerk he had been and vowed to become a better person. So, perhaps the moral of the story is that we should all open our eyes to the human beings around us and appreciate the various communities of which we are part.