Thrift Store Customers Donate $11K to Pine Lake Camp
During the month of May, Thrift Store customers across Alberta donated over $11K to help send kids to The Salvation Army Pine Lake Camp. For families struggling to make ends meet, the cost of summer camps is something they just can’t afford. Donations like this make camp a reality for many children who would not otherwise get to go.
“We would like to thank all of the Thrift Store customers who contributed to this donation,” said Captain Ian Gillingham, Divisional Youth Secretary. "Giving a child an opportunity to attend camp is life changing. We are blessed to see the children transition in mere days from a posture of "I don't want to participate" to "I don't want to leave camp."" This donation essentially covers the registration cost for half of the campers in a given week.
The donation was collected at Salvation Army Thrift Stores in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Red Deer, and Sherwood Park. “Our customers and staff really get behind this initiative every year and this is the largest donation to date,” stated Lorelei Gettle, Thrift Store District Manager.
Over 400 children from across the Alberta and the Northern Territories Division will explore Pine Lake Camp this summer where bible study, team games and sports, and outdoor activities such as canoeing, swimming, and rock climbing will help to build self-esteem, improve social skills, and develop life skills.
*main photo caption: L to R: Capt. Ian Gillingham, Divisional Youth Secretary; Katelyn Bladen, Assistant Program Director; Jason Wombold, Program Director; Trudy Neveu, Leduc Thrift Store Manager, and Lorelei Gettle, District Manager.
