For today’s Saturday Snapshot I thought I would share with you where I have been this past week. I am on a Camp Board for a Camp called Camp Benedict. This camp is an educational camp for those infected and affected by AIDS. The camp is a family camp, which means we have men, women, and children at camp, and we have people who have obtained AIDS through many different ways:
Sex
Needles
Blood transfusions (before they tested blood back in the 80’s)
and yes, children born with AIDS
My connection to this camp and cause stems back 5 years, and you can read about it here. During the year we have a large event and a bike ride to raise money to provide camp for free to those who attend. The camp is the only one like it in a 6 state range.
Anyhoo… here are some of the pics from this past week:
So why am I a part of this camp? I LOVE what it is doing. I love Connie Statz, the woman who bravely 20 years ago had an idea for a way to support others with AIDS and she ran with her vision and this that I just showed you – is the AMAZING result. I love working with this board of people all striving to encourage, support, and teach. And I love the campers, I enjoy getting to know people throughout the week, listening to their stories and knowing that I am helping to provide a good take-away from them hanging out at this beautiful camp.
Thanks everyone who serves on the Camp Benedict Board and Friends of Camp Benedict. Thanks to the camp staff, and of course to all the campers who travel from all over to have a week at a beautiful camp and hopefully leave with a great experience.
If you would like to support Camp Benedict, here is a link to my support page where I raise funds for the bike ride in August which goes directly to the camp.
Be sure to check out other Saturday Snaphot posts ans see what everyone else is taking pictures of this week 😀
what a wonderful thing to be a part of. I can see why and how it has captured your heart.
It really has Stacy 🙂
It is wonderful to be a part of such a great cause. Thanks for sharing…and here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
Thanks Laurel
This camp sounds like a very special place. I love the idea of a camp where people with or affected by AIDS can come together to learn but also to relax, live fully, feel joy, and know they’re not alone. I salute you for all you do to make such a wonderful opportunity take place each year.
Thanks. It is a lot of work each year but it is also so worth it.
What a lovely sounding place, I like the fact that it is there for all ages. What a fantastic achievement for all those who make it possible
I like that it is a family camp too. 🙂
What an exciting, fun week-end. I love the shot of the kids doing the limbo.
Isnt that great? These are all off my phone camera – there are a lot better photos but they have not been posted yet. 🙂
Sheila, this post made me cry. What a beautiful thing for such a sad reason. I expect you come away feeling very good about helping brighten these people’s lives in whatever way you do, and feel grateful for life itself on an even deeper level. Bless all of you. If I ever have enough money, I plan to support the effort, for sure.
I think I get as much out of camp as the campers do. I walk away with new friendships every year. 🙂
What a wonderful thing to participate in.
Thanks Mystica.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure the campers carried away the warmth and friendship of all the participants.
This week my Saturday Snapshots are of MOUNT RAINIER.
Thanks Sandra 🙂
You’re involved because you have such a warm and generous spirit.
Thanks Cathy.
Your work with Camp Benedict makes me even more proud to “know” you. Such a worthy effort.
ahhh, thanks! That is sweet of you to say.
What a terrific experience for people who can use some terrific experiences in their lives! I love how much fun this looks! Great photos!
Thanks Joy. 🙂
I am in awe of how selfless you are in giving to others. I was single and a bit “wild” in the 1980’s. While living in Tampa FL I was single and working and became friends with a neighbor. Chris was also single and we lived for fun. As women who came of age in the 70’s we had the convenience of birth control and a free spirit about sex. Honestly yes we both slept around a lot, and a condom was never part of our thoughts. In 1988 Chris was donating blood at work, a common thing for her and she received a letter in the mail that her blood had been found to contain the HIV virus. I may have been the first or second person she told. It was awful, frightening and a wake up call. She narrowed down her partners and she contracted HIV from a man who had received unchecked blood. While Chris was in my wedding in 1990, I’m sad to say we’ve lost touch and I’m unsure of her current status.
Thank you for doing what you do…such a wonderful gift.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life Anita. Wow. Too bad you lost touch with Chris, I would be curious as to how she is doing and hopefully has wonderful support. 🙂
This is a wonderful thing you do, Sheila. I truly commend you. You have a big heart, for sure. 🙂
Thank you – I really love being a part of camp.
What an amazing experience every year of your life-such a wondrous, emotional thing to be a part of. Thanks for sharing.
Its a part of my life I can not imagine not having. I have learned so much and met the most amazing people.
I am always so impressed with all that you do, Sheila. I wish I could be more like you.
Candace I think we all have our things that we do. 🙂 I look at other peoples lives and think that would be awesome! Your editing career is one that I envy…. you are close to the books and that is really my dream… to be in the publishing industry would be incredible!
I admire that you not only support the camp but you also participate in it.
Its one of the highlights of my year Leslie 😉
Terrific post, Sheila! What a great place for letting folks network, relax, learn new things, and have a summer break! Good on you for being a part of making it happen!
Thanks Susan!
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Sheila, I cannot express how much you mean to me,, My real friends are counted on my one hand because of all the stigma I am careful on who I trust. And you my dear friend and prankster pal, I have trusted you with my life story and have always felt safe around you. Thus I feel just as safe having you be such an important part of my camp.
I do so love and admire you,
Connie
Thank you Connie. 🙂 I so appreciate you! Love you friend!
Just wanted to say it was beautiful to hear (read) something like that from someone who knows you personally and up-close, Sheila. We who haven’t (yet), though through the internet, pick up on what Connie’s expressed here. “You” shine through 🙂
Thank you 🙂
An inspiring post, Sheila. You provide such a generous spirit to the blogging community. I saw your comment on Miracle Cure by Harlen Coben and think it might be embraced by the HIV community because I don’t know how many fiction or thriller books really deal with that. It’s certainly not his best work, but it’s worth reading for any Harlan fan 🙂
Thank you Stacy. I do occasionally stumble across a book or two on the subject and really interested that Harlan wrote about it. 🙂