July 6, 2020
Kids Deserve a Summer of Fun
Thanks to your support, for more than 40 years, Dixon Hall Summer Camp has provided children with summers of opportunity, and memories that last a lifetime. During these challenging times, Dixon Hall remains committed to helping our young friends experience a safe and enjoyable summer, regardless of their families’ financial situations. We know that some of these kids are more vulnerable and isolated than they have ever been.
Summer programming is not possible without your support: in order to make camp and other online program options a possibility, we need to raise $65,000 in the next three weeks.
The contributions you have made to Dixon Hall during the pandemic have been unprecedented; still our youth need your donation now. This support will enable summer programming for kids: a gift of just $65 could give a child one day at camp. $325 can provide a child with a full week at camp.
Summer camp may seem a bit frivolous at this time. But the reality is that our young friends have been isolated at home for far too long, and are in need of both continued online support and safe in-person programming.
During the pandemic, life for almost all of our Children & Youth families has become more complex: we have supported with family relocations, health and addiction issues, as well as grief and loss. We have fed families through the provision of more than 1,500 meals and online cooking classes, and we have nourished minds through online workshops. We are, and will continue to be, a safe place for children, youth, and families.
While other organizations have had to cancel their summer activities, we know that this summer, perhaps more than any other in Dixon Hall’s history, is so important: not only for our campers, but for the youth who will not be able to attend camp. Because of restrictions on participant numbers, we cannot welcome as many young people as we would like. We will prioritize families in need, and all of our young participants will continue to have access to virtual activities to keep them engaged. Our focus this summer, both in person and online, is connecting, healing, and growing.
Many of you, as our donors, have helped create a space in our new youth center that will allow us to run programs, and now camp, with the space required for physical distancing. However, we have had to make changes to our regular format to make sure our campers and staff are safe. Because of the necessary PPE, additional staff, and enhanced cleaning requirements, our camp expenses have had to increase this year.
We can’t thank you enough for helping us to provide a positive space for our kids. As one of our 9-year old campers put it: “Camp is where I can be me, all the time.”
Regent Park has one of the highest rates of child poverty in Canada. We want to continue to give as many children as possible the opportunity to be themselves all the time. Your kind donation will help us to do that. We have the power to help change the lives of these children.
On behalf of our campers and their families, please accept our most sincere thanks for your generosity. To see additional details on how we’re working to make camp safe, visit our Children and Youth Services.
Sincerely,
Mercedes Watson
CEO, Dixon Hall
P.S. If you have already donated, thank you! Please consider sharing our message with your contacts and help give our youth a great summer.