SNEAKER DRIVE FOR GLOBAL CAMPS

Caroline from Rye, New York

For a lot of kids, summer means a time to escape from one's home and go away to camp. Camps are magical places where one is able to take risks and do activities they have never done before. Camp is truly a great experience that everyone should have a chance to participate in. Because of my love of camp, I helped to participate in the program Global Camps to help collect new or gently used sneakers for children ages 9-15 in South Africa. These children live in poverty and have HIV/ AIDS or they have a family member who does. At camp, not only are the kids able to interact and do fun activities with other kids who are just like them, but the camp also teaches the kids about HIV/ AIDS and how to prevent getting it. So far I have collected over 250 sneakers for this great cause, and the sneakers will go to the children who do not have sneakers so that they will be able to participate in the sports activities. I have helped organized a sneaker drive at my middle school, and a shoe store also collects sneakers when kids buy new ones. If you would like to learn more about Global Camps, please go to www.GlobalCamps.org.