CROFTON KIWANIS CLUB DONATION GIVES CAMP EXPERIENCE TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
On June 8th, Crofton Kiwanis Club President Mike Pierre awarded a check of $1,625 to William Boone, our Area Director of The Boys and Girls Club. This kind donation will sponsor 13 at-risk kids from Glen Burnie Boys and Girls Club to participate in a one week overnight camp experience in HappyLand, a Salvation Army-owned Summer camp this year. Along with this donation, Staples Inc. of Bowie also donated to the Salvation Army summer program two dozen “Student School Packs” for the campers, which included pens, pencils, colored markers, glues, erasers, and other items for many needs including writing notes and assignments, creating stories and artwork, and making crafts.
The donation was a surprise for The Salvation Army of Central Maryland! Initially, William Boone was invited to the June Crofton Kiwanis monthly membership meeting as a special guest. He represented The Salvation Army of Central Maryland at the meeting and introduced multiple services that the organization provides all over Central Maryland. Boone detailed several services such as providing shelter to Anti-human Trafficking victims, feeding the hungry, rental assistance, Christmas help, volunteer opportunities invigorated attendees to give back even more. Boone later concluded the meeting discussing The Boys and Girls Clubs he manages located in Middle River, Franklin Square and in Glen Burnie. Each Boys and Girls club has staff that teaches kids subjects in STEM, character building, sports, scholastic, and religious courses for at-risk kids ages 6 years old to 13 years old. What’s also interesting about each Boys and Girls club is that each center has various needs that need to be met. Due to inflation, and rising costs all around, potentially many kids wouldn’t be able to participate in camp this year.
Thanks to the kindness of The Crofton Kiwanis Club, each Boys and Girls Club member that is sponsored will have an all-expenses paid trip to camp that includes room, board, food, transportation, and activities.
Just one donation of $125.00 can provide one week of overnight camp experience for a kid in need at Camp Happyland located in Richardsville, VA. Founded in 1921, Camp Happyland is a Christian camp owned and operated by The Salvation Army. During the summer, camp services children and teens from underserved communities from the states of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and DC. Not only do kids learn to swim, row a boat, play sports, and learn relationship skills but they can also participate in specialty programs that focus on the arts, STEM, competitive team sports, outdoor education, and leadership development. For kids with a great passion in music, many can join Musicamp a themed one-week that introduces band, choir, theatre, and dance.
Boone’s heart swell upon receiving this donation. “Thank you Kiwanis Club of Crofton for your generosity and the opportunity to speak to your board members,” said Boone. “On behalf of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Maryland, THANK YOU! We hope to continue to work with you and the Kiwanis family.”
Thank you so much Crofton Kiwanis and Staples of Bowie for your kind donation which will change 13 kids’ lives this year!