Holiday Help Thank Yous - Please Read!

posted by Ben on Saturday, December 24th, 2011

We want to THANK everyone who participated in the Holiday Help program, donating gift cards, volunteering, and attending our Pancake Breakfast! We gave out the money, gift cards, and the rest of the breakfast “supplies” to six local camp families in need. We hope you enjoy hearing some of their words, posted below. Please read these and remember that despite all the evils we may see, there is a lot that is right in the world. Thank you all!

Thank you to everyone at Camp Alvernia for the food and gift cards for ____ and ____. It was so very generous and will certainly make their holiday a lot more fun. We are all so lucky to be part of the Camp Alvernia family and are very grateful for all you have done for us.

Happy Holidays,
____

I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you yesterday. I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU!! from all of us. The breakfast stuff is great, and of course for the gift cards too. they will help us a lot! It’s a beautiful thing that you did for us, and we appreciate it a lot.

Sending you blessing for the holidays,
____, ____, ____ and ____

I wanted to thank you, Ben, all the other camp staff and the various donors and contributors to Camp Alvernia who made the gift basket for my family possible. The contents went beyond anything I expected, and they will really help make this time nice for the kids. And help us get by a little easier. I know this wouldn’t be possible without the kindness of so many selfless people, who shared something of their own hard work and energy with us, and I am deeply grateful.

When Ben first told me that my kids could come to the camp, back in the spring of last year, I was very moved. It was the first ray of light after a very dark time which included unemployment, the diagnosis of my wife’s mental illness, extended family challenges and more. It marked a spiritual and emotional turning point of sorts. It gave us hope to continue on despite all of our challenges.

When I was driving back to the camp last night, I had such a range of emotions, recalling all the days I hurried there from my terrible, stressful job, and then from my better one, both in Port Washington, to get the kids. Only to find them so happily playing pool in the garage and enjoying various snacks. They never wanted to leave.

I also recalled all those wonderful Wednesday nights with the kids, watching movies and roasting marshmallows. I loved being there for the summer nights. My wife also found her visits to the camp very comforting and meaningful, and she was so delighted for our kids.

Camp Alvernia is forever etched in my mind and my wife’s with life-changing kindness.

I am honored to be associated with the camp, and will do whatever I can to help it.

Please accept my deepest thanks to all of you for all your kindness and sacrifice. And my best wishes for wonderful holiday happiness.

Sincerely,
____