Summer is coming!



It seems Spring is at our door and Summer is right around the corner. For many children Summer brings endless mornings to sleep in, play sports with friends, ride bikes, and so much more. Unfortunately, for many children in our community Summer means uncertainty about steady meals, baby sitting younger siblings while mom is at work, and unsupervised roaming. Families are struggling to make ends meet let alone thinking about providing summer day care or attending summer day camps. These activities are expensive for any family and impossible for single job families or unemployed parents. I say all of this because The Salvation Army has a plan!

Children have always been at the heart of our ministry. In Virginia, The Salvation Army maintains beautiful Camp Happyland located outside of Fredericksburg, VA. 200+ acres of first class camping/conference facilities with renovated cabins, a pool, lake with paddle boats, dining facility, educational buildings, a nature center and so much more. Camp Happyland's mission to provide a safe and secure Christian environment for at risk and needy children all across the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia. It has a first class staff of  Christian young people and college students, experienced Camp Directors, professional dining staff, and even a full time Registered Nurse. Camp Happyland is ACA (American Camping Association) Accredited which means that it adheres to the most strict safety and staffing measures in the camping industry. Every year thousands of children attend through The Salvation Army to Camp Happyland for a one week residential camping program that allows children to be children. The best part is that tuition and transportation are almost always provided at no cost to the families of children that attend. That is fantastic news for parents in need.

Camp is a wonderful opportunity for a child. I believe in The Salvation Army and its camping program. I attended The Salvation Army's Camp Tomahawk in West Virginia as a child, my parents served as Camp Directors of a Salvation Army camp, and I also served on staff for 8 Summers as a high school and college student at Camp Tomahawk. I have seen children's lives changed by the experience, a experience to forget the cares of the world they come from all just to be a child. I was changed by my experiences at camp. I ask you to consider providing a child an opportunity to just be a kid for a little longer before the world forces them to grow up too fast.

In Waynesboro, The Salvation Army provides this opportunity for 25 children in need. In order for us to do so we need generous minded members of the community to sponsor a child at $150 for one week of sun soaked fun at Camp Happyland. Those interested can contact me at jb_blevins@uss.salvationarmy.org

God Bless You!