Each spring, I remember eagerly observing the approach of summer. I looked forward to days spent playing in the pool or afternoons whiled away with a stack of books from the library. Sadly, many children in our US Division don’t look forward to the summer months.
All the children on our US program receive free or reduced price meals at school based on their family’s income level. On school days each child receives a nutritious lunch and oftentimes breakfast too. During the summer months when school is out, there is no free breakfast or lunch for these children and sometimes, they go without.
This summer, Children, Incorporated was able to pay for a summer camp in Knott County through Hope in Action funds. Sponsors generously give to Hope in Action with the simple idea of helping a child in need-wherever it is needed. With $7,000 from Hope in Action, Deb Joseph, our Volunteer Coordinator at Carr Creek Elementary, operated a 6-week summer camp. Each child received a free and nutritious breakfast and lunch everyday. The theme of the summer camp was international travel, so each week the children “visited” a new country. In Egypt they learned how to write their names in Hieroglyphics. In Mexico they learned about the history behind the Mexican flag. Each child wrote a daily journal entry, and early tests show an improvement in the children’s writing, reading, and social studies skills.
I had the pleasure of visiting the camp during the last week of operation. I overheard two little girls planning to meet up at the pool that evening-Deb had arranged a family pool night for campers and their families. I was so glad that through our sponsor’s generosity, these two girls will have happy summer memories to remember forever. I hope we are able to continue going beyond sponsorship to meet children’s needs through our sponsors’ generous donations to Hope in Action.
-Whitney