Summer camp is where memories are made for so many children. Thanks to a Summer Camp grant for $1,480 from the Niagara Community Foundation, the Town of Pelham was able to create unforgettable moments for even more children.
Summer Camp Grant- Town of Pelham/Pelham Cares
The grant, applied for in partnership with Pelham Cares, a local food bank and social service organization, meant nine children between the ages of four and 12 from five families could partake in weeklong day camp programming that included trips to local parks and splash pads, and field trips to Safari Niagara, African Lion Safari, and Wild Water Works.
Those are nine children who otherwise would have had to miss out on a quintessential childhood experience and the many happy memories that come with it.
“My kids loved it and loved being able to go on the trips to Wild Water Works and Safari Niagara,” wrote one mom whose children participated in the Town of Pelham’s summer camps. “These are trips that we normally wouldn’t be able to go on with my large family because of financial issues.”
“It has been amazing for our kids as it gets them social and helps with issues they have had,” wrote another parent. “My children love being able to participate in extracurricular activities.”
Since the advent of the pandemic, the Town of Pelham, through Pelham Cares, has seen a significant uptick in local families needing help to provide their children with positive experiences during the summer break, said Brittany MacLeod, the town’s active living programmer.
Access to such funding is essential and the impact invaluable, she noted, given the feedback from families who benefited from the NCF Summer Camp Grant.
“It’s more than just childcare,” MacLeod said. “It’s creating memories and experiences these children wouldn’t get outside of camp. We’re very lucky with the funding we’ve received. It’s made a difference in the number of families we’ve been able to help through Pelham Cares.”
