Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

Two issues we are trying to address,

1.) Children living with spina bifida don’t have the same opportunities to do physical activities in life that other children get to experience because of their special needs. They are required to use mechanical devises to move from one place to another and many use wheel chairs to travel. The lack of exercise causes obesity, depression, lack of goals in their life and causes stress on the family unit. The population we serve require 24 hour 7 day a week care and increases the stress of the family unit.

2.) Through volunteerism and sharing their lives through service, with others in their community who are not as fortunate as themselves. These young adults need additional opportunities to serve others through volunteerism.

What is your project and how will it help?

Our project helps children and their families without regard to sex, race, religion, economic condition, educational status or social level. MITIOG seeks to help the children with activities which fulfil their physical and emotional developmental needs, increasing their sense of self-worth and promote self-reliance in daily activities. MITIOG operates with many professional and community volunteers to accommodate the special medical, physical and emotional needs of these children. MITIOG teach them the joys of living a normal life which they otherwise would not have. The campers learn life skills that will prepare them for independent life as they grow into adulthood. The camping experience is also increasing the family unit by giving the caregivers of the campers who usually give 24 hour 7 day a week care to their child. The relief is only for a week but it is enough to help the caregivers rejuvenate from the years of caring for their young child.

We provide a unique opportunity to young adults to learn the joy of serving others and the important of volunteering to serve their fellow mankind. For many young adults this is the only opportunity they have to be exposed to the hard work and joys of giving back to their community. The young adult (counsellor) is a buddy to the camper all week long. They do everything together. The counsellor provides the 24 hour care needed by the special needs camper. They become buddies and lifelong friends. Through the process the young adults learns the joys of caring for others. The counsellors are certified childcare workers taught by a professional and learn the safe ways to care for all children.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

Each year we need 57 young adults to volunteer their week to be a buddy to the campers. Many times we get down to the last week before camp before we have enough counsellors to provide each camper a counsellor. We would like to get the word out to the youth of our community to apply to be counsellors. We also need funding. The camp runs on very little money but the food, camp ground rental and insurance is our biggest expense each year at about $37,000. We need help to fund the camp grounds rental in 2012.

Please detail the resources that you need.

We would like to ask for $5,000 to help pay for the camp grounds. We would also like to invite any of the committee reviewing or any of the center associates who would be interested to visit the camp while we are in session to please give me a call and we will set up a time and directions.