Summer Bless-a-Child Programs are a Safe Haven
Summer vacation was coming up, and Michael was excited. However, the 14-year-old’s
mother was concerned. Michael’s father was in prison and she had to work during
the weekdays to support her two sons. Michael would have no other choice but to be alone
all day, every day of summer vacation. Other alternatives were just too expensive. Summer
was quickly approaching. The family was almost out of time and options when Michael’s
mom found out about one of Operation Blessing’s sponsored day camps. See what happened…
Last summer New Life for Girls in Dover, Pennsylvania provided a safe place for children
to spend the day while their parents went to work. Research shows that teen crime and
promiscuity increases when they are left alone for long periods of time. The parents
of New Life campers did not have to worry about their children getting into trouble
or hurt on the street. One of those teens was Michael.
Monday-Friday he ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at camp. Lots of activities were packed
in between meals. Michael’s summer was filled with developing his leadership talents
and being a role model to the younger campers. All of them volunteered time at rescue
missions serving food and helped neighbors by washing their cars or doing yard work.
For fun they learned dance, drama and arts/crafts as well as hiked, swam and visited
the library once a week.
Matthew was one of the younger campers. The 10-year-old lived with his mom. It broke
his mom’s heart that her son might have to spend the summer alone, confined to
the house playing video games while she worked. That was her only safe option since
any other option was too expensive on their tight budget. Both of them were thankful
for New Life’s program! Matthew especially enjoyed the sports’ activities.
Summer trips to the library even sparked him to ask his mom to take him after camp was
over.
OB Philadelphia and its partners reached 466 children like Michael and Matthew during
Bless-a-Child (BAC) 2004! But that’s not all – last year 27,232 children
of diverse ethnic backgrounds participated in BAC programs across the country! These
boys and girls came from working poor households in places including Santa Ana, California;
Dallas, Texas; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Newport News, Virginia.
BAC Season 2005
It’s just around the corner! Our outreach centers are beginning to plan for their
BAC 2005 programs. With your generous support, tens of thousands of boys and girls will
once again be able to have safe and motivating places to spend their summers. Many of
our sponsored BAC programs also have implemented tutoring into their program. Certified
teachers help students who have learning disabilities or who have just fallen behind
prepare for the new school year.
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