Some children have only dreamed of venturing out of the city streets of Charleston and into the winding hills of West Virginia.
This is the case for Angela, a 9-year-old who has never had the chance to go to summer camp, where children are provided the chance to develop both independence, the ability to work effectively alone, and interdependence, the ability to work with others.
Though she may seem shy and quiet to those who have just met her, Angela has found ways to open up and express herself through art at The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
She would love to attend The Salvation Army Camp Tomahawk, where she could participate in craft and art classes, as well as build friendships.
Angela lives with her mother and younger siblings. Her mother's part-time, minimum wage paycheck is hardly enough to pay the bills and put money on the table, let alone attend a week at camp.
The Salvation Army Camp Tomahawk provides an environment for children to learn self-sufficiency and build self-confidence and leadership skills.
These stories emphasize how important a summer camp experience can be for children and young adults. But summer camps are not always within the financial reach of families.
The Gazette-Mail Charities Send-a-Child-to-Camp Fund is gathering donations from generous readers to help children attend Camp Tomahawk and others like it.
To give, fill out the donation coupon below or go to wvgazettemail.com and click on the camp fund logo.