By DG Cindi O’Neil
This summer 100 children who lost their homes in the Holiday Farm Fire will receive a special treat: a week-long summer camp designed to help them heal from the trauma of the fire. The District 5110 Fire Relief Fund is funding one of the camps and United Way of Lane county is funding another. Together the partnership funds $50,000 worth of renewed resiliency in young children. Monica Wilton of the Rotary Club of Eugene spearheaded the project with Lane County Health and Human Services, Supervisor of “Lane Care Program,” Lucy Zammarelli.
Camp Noah is a nationally recognized camp designed for children impacted by disaster. The program will benefit children from first grade through 5th grade. Each child will have a special birthday party, receive an emergency preparedness backpack and fleece blanket, a Camp Noah T-shirt, and interact in group exercises with their peers designed to help them process their personal disaster experiences. Parents report that their children come home less afraid of the weather, have been helped to work through their feelings about their disaster experience, and some experience fewer behavioral problems.
The District 5110 Fire Relief Committee continues to fund sustainable projects aimed at restoring the lives and futures of those impacted by the fires. The fire relief governing committee meets monthly to review project requests. To learn more contact Committee Co-Chairs, PDG Cindi O’Neil or District Governor Gerry Kosanovic.