Summer camp is considered a luxury for many, so YMCA is making it affordable in Pine Hills
YEAR THAT KIDS USUALLY CAN’T WAIT FOR, BUT MANY PARENTS DREAD. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SUMMER BREAK AND SUMMER CAMP CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT THE YMCA AND UNITED WAY HAVE TEAMED UP TO TRY AND MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR KIDS IN PINE HILLS. AS WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH REPORTS, THE SUMMER CAMP IS NOW CONSIDERED AN INVESTMENT POINT. YOU’RE ALMOST THERE. IN A MATTER OF DAYS. SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER AND MANY KIDS WILL DIVE RIGHT INTO SUMMER CAMP, SWIMMING, PLAYING BASKETBALL, HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS OLD AND NEW, ESPECIALLY AT THE YMCA WHERE SOME ARE CAMP IS PART OF ITS DNA. SO IT’S GOING TO GIVE THEM ACTIVITY, AND IT’S GOING TO GIVE THEM STRUCTURE. BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SAY, WHAT DOES IT ALSO GIVE THE PARENTS? IT GIVES THE PARENTS THE SAME SECURITY OF KNOWING THAT THEIR KIDS HAVE A PLACE TO BE. BUT FOR MANY FAMILIES, SUMMER CAMP IS A LUXURY THEY CAN’T AFFORD, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS LIKE PINE HILLS, WHICH HAS STRUGGLED ECONOMICALLY, NEEDS MORE RESOURCES, JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE. SO THIS YEAR THE YMCA IS GETTING TOGETHER WITH UNITED WAY, AND THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE KIDS TO GET INTO THE SUMMER CAMP FROM PINE HILLS. AND UNITED WAY IS DOING THAT BY GIVING $25,000. THE DECISION COMING AFTER ONE OF WESH 2’S SAVING OUR STREETS STORIES ABOUT HOW MORE SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES ARE NEEDED FOR KIDS. THE GRANT WILL CUT THE PRICE OF SUMMER CAMP IN HALF FROM $110 A WEEK TO 55, WHERE WE’RE LOOKING AROUND, WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WHERE UNITED WAY CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT, AND WE BECAME AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND BECAME AWARE THAT MORE KIDS COULD GO IF THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY. YOU KNOW, THAT HELPS. EVERYBODY’S LIVING OFF OF PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK MORE MONEY. SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC TO CYNTHIA GALLOP’S EARS. SHE’S TRYING TO GET HER NINE YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE SUMMER CAMP AT THE Y, A KID. SOMETHING TO DO INSTEAD OF BEING OUT IN THE STREET DOING NOTHING. YOU KNOW, KEEP THE THE BRAINS MOVING ACTIVE. KEEP THEM FROM GETTING IN TROUBLE SO IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORANGE COUNTY. MICHELLE MEREDITH WESH 2 NEWS ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS QUALIFY FOR THIS
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Summer camp is considered a luxury for many, so YMCA is making it affordable in Pine Hills
Reporter
It's the time of the year that kids can't wait for – and many parents dread.We are talking about summer break. And summer camp can be expensive. But the YMCA and United Way have teamed up to make it more affordable for kids in Pine Hills with a $25,000 grant."It's going to give them activity and it's going to give them structure," said Kevin Bolding, YMCA of Central Florida president and CEO. "It gives the parents the same security that their kids have a place to be." But for many families, summer camp is a luxury they can't afford. Especially in areas like Pine Hills, which has struggled economically and needs more resources and jobs that pay a living wage.The decision comes after one of WESH 2's Saving our Streets stories about how more summer opportunities are needed for kids. The grant will cut the price of summer camp in half, from $110 a week to $55."United way is always looking for ways to make a positive impact," said Ray Larsen with United Way. "And we because aware of the situation and realized more kids could go if there was a little bit more money."It sounds like music to Cynthia Gallop's ears. She's trying to get her 9-year-old grandson in the summer camp at the Y."It gives the kids something to do other than nothing. Keep the brains moving. Keep them from getting in trouble," she said.
PINE HILLS, Fla. —
It's the time of the year that kids can't wait for – and many parents dread.
We are talking about summer break. And summer camp can be expensive.
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But the YMCA and United Way have teamed up to make it more affordable for kids in Pine Hills with a $25,000 grant.
"It's going to give them activity and it's going to give them structure," said Kevin Bolding, YMCA of Central Florida president and CEO. "It gives the parents the same security that their kids have a place to be."
But for many families, summer camp is a luxury they can't afford. Especially in areas like Pine Hills, which has struggled economically and needs more resources and jobs that pay a living wage.
The decision comes after one of WESH 2's Saving our Streets stories about how more summer opportunities are needed for kids.
The grant will cut the price of summer camp in half, from $110 a week to $55.
"United way is always looking for ways to make a positive impact," said Ray Larsen with United Way. "And we because aware of the situation and realized more kids could go if there was a little bit more money."
It sounds like music to Cynthia Gallop's ears. She's trying to get her 9-year-old grandson in the summer camp at the Y.
"It gives the kids something to do other than nothing. Keep the brains moving. Keep them from getting in trouble," she said.
