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By Keela Keeping
“It’s hard at times making ends meet,” he has said, “but we are a family and have love for each other.” Every year, the boys ask if they can go to camp, and every year the answer is the same – they just don’t have the money. Last year, however, was different. Mitchell – whose real name is not being used, for the sake of privacy – applied and qualified for a special camp sponsorship program. It is offered annually, through Union Gospel Mission (UGM), to the Lower Mainland’s most needy children. Mitchell beamed with excitement when he was finally able to tell his kids: “Yes, you’re going to camp this summer!” In a letter to UGM, Mitchell expressed that “this year you made three young boys very, very happy, and made a dream come true . . . . “By sponsoring my sons you, also made me believe that there is hope for our family.” But initially, taking the kids to camp did pose some concerns for Mitchell. All three boys are challenged with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – and Mitchell wasn’t sure how they would do on their own. Still, he left the boys at camp, trusting that they would be okay in the hands of the staff. At the end of the week, Mitchell’s fears were dissolved. When he picked up the boys, they could not stop talking about what a wonderful experience they’d had. “I was very pleased with how the staff handled my children,” said Mitchell. “My sons are back in school, and still talk about camp. All three have done stories in class about the great time they had.” Mitchell’s kids are just three of 750 underprivileged children who were able to go to camp last year through Union Gospel Mission’s donor camp sponsorship program. “For many children, it’s their first time outside of the inner city, and the first time they experience nature’s beauty,” explained Jenna Amundson, UGM camp and family ministries worker. She describes kids being scared of the quiet and the dark when they first arrive, having never been away from the city’s noise and landscape, where lights are always on. Camp for many is the first time they see a starlit sky so clearly.” Amundson said many of these kids are so used to watching their back that they constantly lock doors and are fearful of strangers – even though they’re miles away from everything. |
She further explained that at home, many of these children have stressful lives, where they have a major role in taking care of siblings, taking on financial stresses – or they are acting as a sounding board for a stressed-out single parent. Amundson, describes kids being able to let go of all those responsibilities, and just be a kid. “They can run in wide-open spaces without having to look out for drug paraphernalia,” she said. “When we’ve taken them to the beach, some kids are simply mesmerized, spending hours turning over rocks, picking up crabs and doing all kinds of beachcombing.” These kids are not only exposed to new experiences with nature, but also with people. “At camp, they’re given an opportunity to build relationships with caring youth leaders, make new friends, develop new skills and experience success at challenging activities,” said Amundson. UGM children who are sponsored for camp are also given a brand new backpack with special supplies, including: a flashlight, a Bible, a camp T-shirt, first aid kit, rain poncho, socks, baseball hat, toothbrush, toothpaste and a disposable camera with a flash. For anyone interested in sending a kid to camp through UGM’s kid’s camp program, a donation of $45 will send a child to camp for a day, while a $315 gift will send a child to summer camp for an entire week. In addition, UGM Camp Ministries staff work with the organization year-round to coordinate follow-up events that continue to serve the children throughout the year. Union Gospel Mission has been assisting hungry and homeless men, women, youth and children for nearly 70 years, through counselling, education and drug recovery. Contact: ugm.ca. April 2009 | ||||||||
