The spring flooding that occurred in some areas of Northern Ontario as all that snow we received during the winter of 2018-2019 melted has had unfortunate consequences for Camp Quality Northern Ontario.
The camp, which runs this year July 6-12 out of a camp in Monetville on the West Arm of Lake Nipissing, is a non-profit, volunteer organization providing a camping experience and year-round support for children with cancer and their families.
Camp Quality stores some of its equipment year round in a storage container on the site of the camp. Unfortunately, the ground around the storage container was flooded this spring.
Kathryn Kettle, marketing and community outreach intern with Camp Quality Northern Ontario, said about $15,000 worth of equipment was damaged and rendered unusable.
That includes about 60 lifejackets, tents and canopies, sports equipment and fans and air conditioners used to cool the cabins for the 70 young campers.
It's a devastating situation for the organization. “Especially with two weeks to go, it is very significant,” Kettle said.
So Camp Quality has put a call out to the community for help. They're trying to raise $15,000 through its website over the next couple of weeks.
“Already the community is showing us a lot of support,” said Kettle (more than $1,600 had already come in as of Friday afternoon). “We're really hopeful that we can recover these damages.”
The camp is also accepting donations of items — the greatest need right now is lifejackets of all sizes.
If you're interested in helping out, you can donate through Camp Quality's website.
You can also bring physical or monetary donations to a fundraising barbecue being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 28 at the Second Avenue Sudbury Credit Union location.
Kettle can be contacted at [email protected] or 705-918-0485 if you need more information.
Sudbury.com
