Efforts are underway to save a struggling children's camp in Bothwell.
Camp Vincent Fundraising Coordinator Rebecca Reimer is reporting the camp is struggling and is facing closure after youth programs had to be cancelled over summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reimer said the camp needs to raise $100,000 if it wants to open its doors in June and celebrate its 50th anniversary in the summer of 2021.
Officials are going to businesses looking for donations but most of the fundraising is being done online for everyone's safety.
Reimer said time is running out to get repairs done in time for the summer and the money is desperately needed as soon as possible.
"We have had almost no income this year at all and then you add a break-in in which someone stole and destroyed about $12,000 worth of property from the camp and just a few other things that have happened along the way with 2020 being the year that it is," said Reimer. "We need some now to get the ball rolling to make sure we can still pay all of the bills that we need to pay but in order for us to do the upgrades needed for the camp to run we need the money by March so we can get people in there and do the repairs needed."
Reimer said Camp Vincent helps children from as far as London, Sarnia, and Windsor have fun and reach their potential.
"We have on average about 900 kids that come to the camp each summer and of that 900 about half are scholarship kids. Those are kids that would never get a chance to go to camp because their family is not in a financial position to be able to send them," Reimer said.
Camp Vincent has raised nearly $20,000 in the past two weeks thanks to corporate sponsors. Donations are being accepted online at www.campvincent.com or visit their Facebook page to donate. Reimer said the camp uses a secure PayPal and issues a tax receipt for donations over $20.