PALM BEACH COUNTY KIDS NEED HELP
GETTING TO SUMMER CAMP
Salvation Army Looking for "Angels" to Sponsor Local Children
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Children
from the
Northwest
Community
Center
Summer Camp
on a pool
outing
Photo By:
Mike Pinkney
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West Palm
Beach, FL
(26 April
2010) -
Hiking in
the woods,
learning how
to weave a
lanyard,
singing
songs by the
campfire --
some of our
fondest
childhood
memories
come from
summer camp.
For the
neediest
children in
Palm Beach
County,
these simple
joys seem
unattainable.
These
at-risk kids
will spend
their summer
wandering
the mean
streets or
hanging out
with other
idle kids --
many of them
bad
influences…
a recipe for
trouble.
But The
Salvation
Army can
help
struggling
local
families
avoid such
an outcome
for their
children.
Last year in
the United
States,
thousands of
children
attended
some 48
Salvation
Army
residential
camps. "It's
an
experience
not to be
missed,"
observes
Palm Beach
County Area
Commander
Major Thomas
McWilliams.
"Time spent
at camp can
be a
life-changing
experience
for kids. It
can instill
feelings of
self-worth,
open up the
world and
offer hope
for the
future."
Area
Commander,
Major
McWilliams
reports
that last
summer the
citizens of
Palm Beach
County gave
this
precious
gift of
overnight
camp to 120
local
children
some of whom
had never in
their lives
experienced
the wonders
of nature.
In addition
to overnight
camp, The
Salvation
Army
provided
four day
camps in
Palm Beach
County to
nearly 120
more local
children.
Through
donations,
underprivileged
kids got to
go to camps
where they
played
sports,
swam,
explored the
outdoors and
made crafts
in
additional
to summer
day camps.
And beyond
the
recreation,
with the
help of
trained
counselors
they learned
how to get
along with a
diverse
group of
neighbors,
dealing with
the
troubling
issues and
concerns
that
challenge
them in
their daily
lives.
"We are so
grateful to
our friends
who
sponsored
these
children,"
he says.
"What a
difference
their
generosity
made in
these
children's
lives. The
kids not
only enjoyed
nutritious
meals and
explored the
great
outdoors,
they learned
new
life-skills
and got to
interact
with caring
adults who
listened to
them and
showed them
love and
concern.
The
Salvation
Army of Palm
Beach County
is
currently
seeking
sponsorship
for local
children to
attend
summer camp
in 2010.
"School will
be ending
soon," Major
McWilliams
points out.
"There are
lots of
spots left
and not
enough money
to fill
them. I hope
the
community
will come
through for
these
deserving
kids. For
many of
them, it's
the
highlight of
the whole
year."
***
About The
Salvation
Army of Palm
Beach County
The
Salvation
Army of Palm
Beach County
has been
serving
residents
since 1922.
The
Salvation
Army is an
international
movement and
an
evangelical
part of the
universal
Christian
church. Its
message is
based on the
Bible and
its ministry
is motivated
by the love
of God. Its
mission is
to preach
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ and
to meet
human needs
in His name
without
discrimination.
For more
information,
call (561)
686-3530.
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