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This story is reprinted courtesy of the Woodstock Villager; it first appeared in that publication's issue of April 29, 2011.
by Jack Meltzer
Woodstock Villager Staff Writer
ASHFORD (05/31/2011) -- On Wednesday, April 20, 25 volunteers from the youth group Giv2 Northeast Chapter volunteered their time during their spring vacation to help clean and prepare the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford for the upcoming summer camp season.
“We had a great day at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp,” said Giv2 Northeast Chapter Coordinator Debby Kirk. “The weather was a little messy so they asked us to do some housekeeping work inside.”
Kirk said the group made up nearly 150 beds and took out trash at the big lodge and several cabins on the campgrounds.
According to Kirk, the 25 volunteers for this event came from four member churches in the Giv2 Northeast Chapter — East Woodstock Congregational Church UCC, First Congregational Church UCC of Woodstock, Westfield Congregational UCC in Danielson, and First Congregational Church UCC of Canterbury.
“This was the fourth Giv2 event this year and the group has logged more than 300 service hours this year,” said Kirk. “The Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ sponsors this outreach program to help youth engage in local service projects.”
According to www.holeinthewallgang.org, Hole in the Wall Gang serves children and families who are diagnosed with serious illness that include cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and hemophilia.
The camp was founded by Paul Newman in 1988, and derives the name from his film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has been serving seriously ill children for more than 20 years.
Jasmin Floyd, a senior at Woodstock Academy and a member of the East Woodstock Congregational Church, has volunteered her time at the camp, and is diagnosed with the rare disease Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) that affects nearly one in 2 million people. Floyd led the 25-member youth group on a tour as she told about her experiences attending the camp as a child.
“I love camp,” Floyd said. “I first came when I was six years old right after I had been diagnosed. I was homesick for a few days, but by the end of the week I had made wonderful friends. Camp is a place where you can forget about your illness. Everyone welcomes you and accepts you.”
Floyd organized a “FOP Awareness Week” at the Academy for the week of April 25.
“Making of beds was a small step to help kids who might not be able to do that task for themselves,” said Pat Mellen of the Westfield Congregational Church. “It made us feel useful, helpful and most of all grateful that Paul Newman started a camp that was free to all who entered and it was designed to be a happy place for kids who might not get a ‘camp experience’ anywhere else due to their needs and health restrictions.”
According to www.hillchurch.org, the website of the First Congregational Church UCC of Woodstock, Giv2 Northeast stands for “give squared,” and is geared for youths in grades 7 through 12.
“Giv2 gives us a chance to give back to our community. It also opens our eyes to needs of others. All of us have loved ones who are battling cancer and fighting illness. Our work at the camp was a chance for us to put prayers in action and partner with an amazing facility that provides healing for children and families,” said Kirk.
“What they did when they came here was they made beds and they did a great job,” said employee for Hole in the Wall Gang in charge of facilities, Debbie Bulger. “They got it done, and they did it right.”
Jack Meltzer is a staff writer for the Woodstock Villager. He may be reached at 860.928.1818 x110, or by e-mail at jack@villagernewspapers.com.
