Love United Iredell
Please join me in sending 20 kids to Camp Walter Johnson this summer!
Organization Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Project: To send at-risk youth to Camp Walter Johnson to learn new skills and self-reliance while working on any emotional needs
Impact: Continuing a long-standing Salvation Army service each summer, youth from many Salvation Army units all over the Carolinas come to camp, situated on High Rock Lake, for a week that can literally change their lives.
Camp Walter Johnson's summer staff, under the leadership of Divisional Youth Secretary, is well-trained and works very hard to help campers grow and develop socially and spiritually; all while having fun with new friends from all across the two states. Camps generally last one week and attendance will vary beginning mid-June and lasting through August.
Love United Iredell offers the perfect opportunity to identify children in Iredell County and sponsor an amazing experience at camp during the summer of 2020. Working in collaboration with partner agencies, The Salvation Army is determined to provide a life-changing trip for children who are living in at-risk circumstances.
By lifting youth out of difficult environments and offering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care in a safe, fun, and loving environment, lives are literally transformed at Camp Walter Johnson. Participants receive excellent meals, secure & comfortable housing, exposure to team building & character building exercises, arts & crafts, and lots of structured outdoor activities with new friends. There are also opportunities for spiritual reflection and study.
Transportation will be provided for the children going to Camp Walter Johnson and returning home. Through the support of the Iredell community, camp scholarships will be provided so that there is no expense for the low-income families selected. The camp fee per child is $250 per week. There is no additional cost for their food, shelter, and materials.
Children learn new skills and self-reliance while trained counselors who understand the emotional needs and problems are able to help them to mature. Often, entire families receive benefits from these camping experiences through expanded services after the children return home.
The benefit to the Iredell community after exposing children to this incredible camp experience is that they return home with a renewed confidence and spirit for positive growth as a productive citizen in school and their community. The Salvation Army is currently partnering with United Way, 5th Street Ministries Shelter, Power Cross Youth Ministries, Iredell Juvenile Court, and Piedmont Remediation to identify those young people, our neighbors, in need of this opportunity.
Client Experience: Summer camp was my escape, my first taste of freedom, my safe haven.
Without going into too many details of my past, I will simply say my childhood wasn't all about princesses and fairy tales. My family experienced some pretty intense issues that caused some pain. But, one day, a van from The Salvation Army pulled into my neighborhood.
The driver was picking up neighborhood kids for a program at the local church. I stepped off the van into a chapel decorated in burgundy ”from the red brick walls to burgundy pews to the burgundy carpeted floor. The chapel was filled with the sound of a brass band playing and smiling faces of people in weird navy blue uniforms. It wasn't long before this became my "church family."
The youth leaders met with my mom after church and told her about Salvation Army after-school programs and music lessons, and that transportation and meals would be provided. Best of all, they told her about a summer camp my sister and I could attend. The topping on the cake: it would all be free.
A few weeks later I was off to Camp Walter Johnson, the camp operated by The Salvation Army of North & South Carolina. When I stepped off the bus, no one knew about my family situation or judged me for any reason - I was only known as Ashley from Troutman in cabin B6. For that week, there were no worries of what I was going to eat or who I could play with. I only had one objective: be a kid.
In that one week of camp I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, perfect my swim strokes, how to make the ultimate s'more and the right way to hang my towel on a tree line so it wouldn't stink for the next day. I learned the best time to catch frogs was after a thunderstorm by the pool and if a male counselor was pushing the merry-go-around, I should hold on with TWO hands. That week, I met friends that I still talk with (or see on Facebook) years later.
That one-week of camp was so instrumental in my life that I went back for several years. Finally when I was old enough, I attended Music Conservatory. I studied music for four weeks straight at Camp Walter Johnson. My major was band, my minor changed every year: drama, voice technique, piano, timbrels. I had music theory classes and choir. Simply put, it was band camp and I LOVED it.
It gave me an outlet to express myself where words failed. I received more hands-on instruction then I did when I was in school. I tried to learn an instrument in public school but I had a learning disability, so it took me a little longer to read the notes. But at camp we had private lessons and my instructors would sit down with me one on one. By the end of four weeks I learned how to read bass and treble clef. I felt empowered.
My journey didn't stop at Music Conservatory. When I felt like I had gotten "too old" to attend camp I applied to work there. I always wanted to be a lifeguard so I applied. They not only hired me but they provided the training. They certified me as a lifeguard and a water safety instructor (swim instructor). Later, these certifications helped put me through college.
Working as a lifeguard at summer camp might look glamorous but - let me tell you - it is not. Jobs like cleaning a bathroom after a long day, or emptying the skimmer baskets that clog up with hair, bugs, frogs and fabric fibers, kept me humble. And every kid is so excited to get to the pool that a group of 50 feels like 150. But, it did let me develop unique relationships with the kids. I could relate to these girls and boys because I understood, I'd been there. In ministering to them, I became blessed beyond belief and I just wanted to be someone that I never had in my household.
Because of camp, I beat the odds. The Salvation Army invested in me when I felt I had nothing. It saved me from the statistics of what could have been and gave me a chance to live a successful life. So, when I graduated college, I wanted to help others who were struggling. I now work for TSA/
More information on organization: https://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/iredell/
Please join me in sending 20 kids to Camp Walter Johnson this summer!
Organization Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Project: To send at-risk youth to Camp Walter Johnson to learn new skills and self-reliance while working on any emotional needs
Impact: Continuing a long-standing Salvation Army service each summer, youth from many Salvation Army units all over the Carolinas come to camp, situated on High Rock Lake, for a week that can literally change their lives.
Camp Walter Johnson's summer staff, under the leadership of Divisional Youth Secretary, is well-trained and works very hard to help campers grow and develop socially and spiritually; all while having fun with new friends from all across the two states. Camps generally last one week and attendance will vary beginning mid-June and lasting through August.
Love United Iredell offers the perfect opportunity to identify children in Iredell County and sponsor an amazing experience at camp during the summer of 2020. Working in collaboration with partner agencies, The Salvation Army is determined to provide a life-changing trip for children who are living in at-risk circumstances.
By lifting youth out of difficult environments and offering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care in a safe, fun, and loving environment, lives are literally transformed at Camp Walter Johnson. Participants receive excellent meals, secure & comfortable housing, exposure to team building & character building exercises, arts & crafts, and lots of structured outdoor activities with new friends. There are also opportunities for spiritual reflection and study.
Transportation will be provided for the children going to Camp Walter Johnson and returning home. Through the support of the Iredell community, camp scholarships will be provided so that there is no expense for the low-income families selected. The camp fee per child is $250 per week. There is no additional cost for their food, shelter, and materials.
Children learn new skills and self-reliance while trained counselors who understand the emotional needs and problems are able to help them to mature. Often, entire families receive benefits from these camping experiences through expanded services after the children return home.
The benefit to the Iredell community after exposing children to this incredible camp experience is that they return home with a renewed confidence and spirit for positive growth as a productive citizen in school and their community. The Salvation Army is currently partnering with United Way, 5th Street Ministries Shelter, Power Cross Youth Ministries, Iredell Juvenile Court, and Piedmont Remediation to identify those young people, our neighbors, in need of this opportunity.
Client Experience: Summer camp was my escape, my first taste of freedom, my safe haven.
Without going into too many details of my past, I will simply say my childhood wasn't all about princesses and fairy tales. My family experienced some pretty intense issues that caused some pain. But, one day, a van from The Salvation Army pulled into my neighborhood.
The driver was picking up neighborhood kids for a program at the local church. I stepped off the van into a chapel decorated in burgundy ”from the red brick walls to burgundy pews to the burgundy carpeted floor. The chapel was filled with the sound of a brass band playing and smiling faces of people in weird navy blue uniforms. It wasn't long before this became my "church family."
The youth leaders met with my mom after church and told her about Salvation Army after-school programs and music lessons, and that transportation and meals would be provided. Best of all, they told her about a summer camp my sister and I could attend. The topping on the cake: it would all be free.
A few weeks later I was off to Camp Walter Johnson, the camp operated by The Salvation Army of North & South Carolina. When I stepped off the bus, no one knew about my family situation or judged me for any reason - I was only known as Ashley from Troutman in cabin B6. For that week, there were no worries of what I was going to eat or who I could play with. I only had one objective: be a kid.
In that one week of camp I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, perfect my swim strokes, how to make the ultimate s'more and the right way to hang my towel on a tree line so it wouldn't stink for the next day. I learned the best time to catch frogs was after a thunderstorm by the pool and if a male counselor was pushing the merry-go-around, I should hold on with TWO hands. That week, I met friends that I still talk with (or see on Facebook) years later.
That one-week of camp was so instrumental in my life that I went back for several years. Finally when I was old enough, I attended Music Conservatory. I studied music for four weeks straight at Camp Walter Johnson. My major was band, my minor changed every year: drama, voice technique, piano, timbrels. I had music theory classes and choir. Simply put, it was band camp and I LOVED it.
It gave me an outlet to express myself where words failed. I received more hands-on instruction then I did when I was in school. I tried to learn an instrument in public school but I had a learning disability, so it took me a little longer to read the notes. But at camp we had private lessons and my instructors would sit down with me one on one. By the end of four weeks I learned how to read bass and treble clef. I felt empowered.
My journey didn't stop at Music Conservatory. When I felt like I had gotten "too old" to attend camp I applied to work there. I always wanted to be a lifeguard so I applied. They not only hired me but they provided the training. They certified me as a lifeguard and a water safety instructor (swim instructor). Later, these certifications helped put me through college.
Working as a lifeguard at summer camp might look glamorous but - let me tell you - it is not. Jobs like cleaning a bathroom after a long day, or emptying the skimmer baskets that clog up with hair, bugs, frogs and fabric fibers, kept me humble. And every kid is so excited to get to the pool that a group of 50 feels like 150. But, it did let me develop unique relationships with the kids. I could relate to these girls and boys because I understood, I'd been there. In ministering to them, I became blessed beyond belief and I just wanted to be someone that I never had in my household.
Because of camp, I beat the odds. The Salvation Army invested in me when I felt I had nothing. It saved me from the statistics of what could have been and gave me a chance to live a successful life. So, when I graduated college, I wanted to help others who were struggling. I now work for TSA/
More information on organization: https://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/iredell/
Be the first person to donate to the cause!
Please join me in sending 20 kids to Camp Walter Johnson this summer!
Organization Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Project: To send at-risk youth to Camp Walter Johnson to learn new skills and self-reliance while working on any emotional needs
Impact: Continuing a long-standing Salvation Army service each summer, youth from many Salvation Army units all over the Carolinas come to camp, situated on High Rock Lake, for a week that can literally change their lives.
Camp Walter Johnson's summer staff, under the leadership of Divisional Youth Secretary, is well-trained and works very hard to help campers grow and develop socially and spiritually; all while having fun with new friends from all across the two states. Camps generally last one week and attendance will vary beginning mid-June and lasting through August.
Love United Iredell offers the perfect opportunity to identify children in Iredell County and sponsor an amazing experience at camp during the summer of 2020. Working in collaboration with partner agencies, The Salvation Army is determined to provide a life-changing trip for children who are living in at-risk circumstances.
By lifting youth out of difficult environments and offering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care in a safe, fun, and loving environment, lives are literally transformed at Camp Walter Johnson. Participants receive excellent meals, secure & comfortable housing, exposure to team building & character building exercises, arts & crafts, and lots of structured outdoor activities with new friends. There are also opportunities for spiritual reflection and study.
Transportation will be provided for the children going to Camp Walter Johnson and returning home. Through the support of the Iredell community, camp scholarships will be provided so that there is no expense for the low-income families selected. The camp fee per child is $250 per week. There is no additional cost for their food, shelter, and materials.
Children learn new skills and self-reliance while trained counselors who understand the emotional needs and problems are able to help them to mature. Often, entire families receive benefits from these camping experiences through expanded services after the children return home.
The benefit to the Iredell community after exposing children to this incredible camp experience is that they return home with a renewed confidence and spirit for positive growth as a productive citizen in school and their community. The Salvation Army is currently partnering with United Way, 5th Street Ministries Shelter, Power Cross Youth Ministries, Iredell Juvenile Court, and Piedmont Remediation to identify those young people, our neighbors, in need of this opportunity.
Client Experience: Summer camp was my escape, my first taste of freedom, my safe haven.
Without going into too many details of my past, I will simply say my childhood wasn't all about princesses and fairy tales. My family experienced some pretty intense issues that caused some pain. But, one day, a van from The Salvation Army pulled into my neighborhood.
The driver was picking up neighborhood kids for a program at the local church. I stepped off the van into a chapel decorated in burgundy ”from the red brick walls to burgundy pews to the burgundy carpeted floor. The chapel was filled with the sound of a brass band playing and smiling faces of people in weird navy blue uniforms. It wasn't long before this became my "church family."
The youth leaders met with my mom after church and told her about Salvation Army after-school programs and music lessons, and that transportation and meals would be provided. Best of all, they told her about a summer camp my sister and I could attend. The topping on the cake: it would all be free.
A few weeks later I was off to Camp Walter Johnson, the camp operated by The Salvation Army of North & South Carolina. When I stepped off the bus, no one knew about my family situation or judged me for any reason - I was only known as Ashley from Troutman in cabin B6. For that week, there were no worries of what I was going to eat or who I could play with. I only had one objective: be a kid.
In that one week of camp I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, perfect my swim strokes, how to make the ultimate s'more and the right way to hang my towel on a tree line so it wouldn't stink for the next day. I learned the best time to catch frogs was after a thunderstorm by the pool and if a male counselor was pushing the merry-go-around, I should hold on with TWO hands. That week, I met friends that I still talk with (or see on Facebook) years later.
That one-week of camp was so instrumental in my life that I went back for several years. Finally when I was old enough, I attended Music Conservatory. I studied music for four weeks straight at Camp Walter Johnson. My major was band, my minor changed every year: drama, voice technique, piano, timbrels. I had music theory classes and choir. Simply put, it was band camp and I LOVED it.
It gave me an outlet to express myself where words failed. I received more hands-on instruction then I did when I was in school. I tried to learn an instrument in public school but I had a learning disability, so it took me a little longer to read the notes. But at camp we had private lessons and my instructors would sit down with me one on one. By the end of four weeks I learned how to read bass and treble clef. I felt empowered.
My journey didn't stop at Music Conservatory. When I felt like I had gotten "too old" to attend camp I applied to work there. I always wanted to be a lifeguard so I applied. They not only hired me but they provided the training. They certified me as a lifeguard and a water safety instructor (swim instructor). Later, these certifications helped put me through college.
Working as a lifeguard at summer camp might look glamorous but - let me tell you - it is not. Jobs like cleaning a bathroom after a long day, or emptying the skimmer baskets that clog up with hair, bugs, frogs and fabric fibers, kept me humble. And every kid is so excited to get to the pool that a group of 50 feels like 150. But, it did let me develop unique relationships with the kids. I could relate to these girls and boys because I understood, I'd been there. In ministering to them, I became blessed beyond belief and I just wanted to be someone that I never had in my household.
Because of camp, I beat the odds. The Salvation Army invested in me when I felt I had nothing. It saved me from the statistics of what could have been and gave me a chance to live a successful life. So, when I graduated college, I wanted to help others who were struggling. I now work for TSA/
More information on organization: https://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/iredell/
Be the first person to donate to the cause!