Day Camp to end Friday with daily average of 90+

By Lynsi Musselman

ResourceCare’s Summer Day Camp 2020 is coming to a close on Friday.

The community-wide three-week camp started on Monday, July 6 and has had to jump several hurdles this year with -COVID-19 and the excessively hot temperatures.

ResourceCare program director Mindy Ary commented that up until the last minute, the ResourceCare staff was unsure if they would be able to have camp, and now it is the end of the last week.

“Albany kids needed camp to happen, and we are blessed that our community has supported us to make it happen,” Ary said. “We are also thankful we have not been forced to shut down.”

Temperatures reached over 100 degrees for seven days in a row last week in Albany, making coronavirus not the only worry for camp this year.

Ary said that camp has gone exceptionally well considering the heat.

“We are grateful to the Boy Scouts for letting us use their new facility,” Ary said. “Friendship Baptist has also helped us out again this year, providing  a space with air conditioning. The use of these spaces has made the heat tolerable.”

Ary added that attendance numbers are comparable to last year with an average of 90 campers daily and 35- plus paid high school staff and volunteers.

The annual day camp began in 1998 when 15 kids participated in the program designed to help reduce the youth crime rate in Albany during the summer months.

Day camp provides students with a safe place, nutritious food, structured activities, and educational experiences.

Donations for the camp are always accepted. Anyone who would like to contribute can send a tax deductible donation to ResourceCare, PO Box 2435, Albany, TX 76430. Donors should designate funding to be used for “Day Camp.”

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