We have so much more to share about our adventures to El Salvador, but let's take a moment for the present. I am writing from the office at St. Dorothy's Camp and Retreat Center in the first of two weeks of hospital camp: camp for critically ill children and their siblings.
Yesterday we welcomed with great fanfare our largest group of kids with cancer and their siblings. One boy walked up with his 6 pins-every camper receives a pin at the end of each year and they are sacred. For others, this was their first time at camp. Leaving home for a week of camp is scary and exciting.
During our gathering time in the evening we focused on the theme of the summer, "Naming the Sacred," and heard about what is sacred to these campers: family, friends, peace, life, breath, my past, trees, the future, camp, this place.
St. Dorothy's fundraising is in large part to pay for the cost of camp for these children. It costs about $1500 to send a child to health camp. This money covers the cost of their camp, in addition to the hospital staff who join them and help make this week possible.
We welcome many returning campers this week, but we have a large number of new campers. One teen is at camp for the first time in his life. By dinner he told me: I'm coming back to be on staff!
Consider making a donation to St. Dorothy's Camp-your gift goes a long way! Your gift makes it possible for a critically ill child to have the opportunity to be free and be a child for a week of pure delight and joy!
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