ARAPAHOE, NC—Camp Don Lee summer camp families donated more than 2,000 pounds of food in our first Cans from Campers food drive to benefit Pamlico County Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, the largest food pantry in Pamlico County.
Families and campers were invited to bring at least one non-perishable food item to their check-in day as a way to show kindness and generosity to food-insecure families in Pamlico County, home to Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center.
“The amount of monetary donations has decreased, as well as the amount of food we receive has declined, and demand has gone up,” according to Kathy Renella, PCFLO general manager. The cost of food has also increased, along with an overall increase in the number of families served in Pamlico County, she said. Pamlico County Fishes and Loaves serves about 1,000 people each month.
“These donations have helped tremendously,” Renella said. “We are so grateful for the effort.”
Across the country, food insecurity increases during the summer months, especially for children, with school not in session, the dwindling supplies of donations following November and December, peak months for food donations, and many people vacationing.
“Generosity is a learned trait, usually learned in the home or at church,” said Kate Metts, camp director. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for families to discuss and reflect on God’s generosity in their own lives and how Christ calls us to share that with others,” she said.
The food drive provided a great platform for these family discussions, no matter the age of the camper, she said.
A total of 2,290 pounds of food–more than one ton—were collected through the camp’s food drive. “Your simple request for campers to bring a can of food when they come to your camp this summer produced remarkable results,” said Raymond Ruppert, chair of the PCFLO board of directors. “It is no exaggeration to say that our shelves are well stocked because of your effort.”
Approximately 19 percent of the children under 18 are food insecure in Pamlico County. For comparison purposes, about 12 percent of the children in Wake County are food insecure.
Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center is a year-round facility located in Arapahoe, NC, offering environmental education, retreats, and nine weeks of sleep-away camp for children ages 7-17. The center, established in 1948, serves more than 10,000 guests per year, mostly children and youth. It is a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated by faith with the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church.