The following is a letter we received from a parent who was assisted with funding from our Sponsorship and Subsidy Fund. With its poignant and sincere message, we knew we had to share it with you.
I am a single parent of 3 kids. I work full time and raise them on my own. I am the sole financial provider for the children. I work very hard to make sure I meet their needs and provide them with as much opportunity as possible. However, as we all know with high costs of living it’s not always easy to do things. Often in life money provides opportunity and plays a factor on life experience. Due to this it is humbling to admit that I cannot always give my kids every experience I want them to have.
Thanks to the generosity of the donors of the Sponsorship and Subsidy Fund for camp my children were able to go away to the two-week program this past summer of 2021. I was speechless at the approval and so excited for my kids. My two sons ‘Michael’ and ‘Andrew’ benefited from this experience. I am more then grateful that there are people out there that are unbelievably selfless in helping this program happen.
My boys are 9 &12 years old. My 9-year-old, Andrew, had never been away from home that long and while he missed me, he pushed through. He is still telling me stories of things he did and funny things about the staff. All the friends that he made too! I honestly think I struggled more with him being gone, but in the end, it was actually a great break for me too.
My 12-year-old son Michael I think could have stayed the entire summer. He came back with a bit of a new outlook. He flourished being away from video games and screens. Loved trying new things and being in the outdoors. Michael was the first to say he would definitely be going back.
With all the judgements in the world it’s really hard for kids to keep up with being cool or wearing the right cloths, owning the best of the best and it’s really hard for parents to keep up with who has what or who does what. In addition to the mental health increases in youth, especially since Coronavirus, times are difficult and have been especially for our family. I know we are not unique in this way but, we are so very fortunate to have had Camp Kawartha come into our lives when it did. The camp opportunity that was given to them shaped them and changed them. I noticed a difference in them when they returned, and it was all positive. It gave them something to experience and motivation at a lonely time.
I want to say thankyou to those who donate. I want to thank those who have helped my children to be able to have this opportunity. I want to say thank you for the generosity of those who make the choice to give and support the camp experience. I am very grateful my children benefited from the support.
In a world that seems so hard to navigate and at times can be negative, this situation showed me how beautiful not only the world can be for us but, how there are wonderful people still shinning in it.
Thank you so very much,
‘Janet’
The Sponsorship and Subsidy Fund was established to support those families who cannot afford our fees but, want their child or children to have a camp experience whether it is for Summer Camp or for our Outdoor Education Program.
This letter is a reminder that we should always consider helping one another — whether it is a visit to an isolated older neighbour, a bag of groceries given to the local food bank, or a donation that allows a camper to experience the joys of being included in a magical camp experience.
We thank Janet for her letter and for allowing us to share it with you. *The names in this letter have been changed.
