The Starlight family is a very strong one, with bonds lasting over multiple generations or even between future best friends who just met. We keep in touch while away from each other during the year and always support our camp family. So appropriately, the theme for the first week of camp was “community.” Jason preached this ideal during our weekly service, saying how we should stick together, through thick and thin. This idea is evidenced through our camp’s two charities, “Stack the Caps” and “Paint the Caps.”
These organizations stem from the memories of a former camper, who a few years ago passed away after a battle with a rare form of cancer. Their collective purpose is to provide new or decorated hats to children who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy. This mission statement is sincere, and has consequently brightened the lives of many. “Stack” and “Paint” have gone from camp activities to nationwide events, with people from all around the country participating. We’ve had individuals like Ally S, Julia G, Lauren M, Corey W, and Kyle M collecting hats for their B’nei Mitzvah projects. Griffin M, Liv S, Alyssa M. Alison E, and Hayley M stacked hats at their school and Adam F organized hat decorating events at his temple.
At our own camp event last Friday, with the help of all the campers, ranging from lower juniors to upper seniors, we stacked over eight feet of hats. The involvement by so many shows the true, heartfelt feelings of the Starlight family. The ties are so strong and throughout the year campers count down the days until they return to their second home. Our two organizations try to keep this connection alive by not only setting forth the meaningful donation of hats, but by also kindling the fire of our memories. For more information on the charities or to learn how to get involved, please visit the websites below:
www.stackthecaps.com
www.paintthecaps.com
With thanks to Adam F for his contribution to this blog.
This summer the upper camp girls participated in a new option period, community service. The girls who had chosen community service were able to work with Allison Miller in creating a way to give back. Following visiting day, the campers are allowed to have their candy for 48 hours. Allison and the girls came up with an idea called Operation Canteen to collect the candy after the deadline. After distributing fifty four Starlight tin boxes to the boy and girl HC’s the campers were told to gather their left over visiting day candy and place it in the boxes. Once the committee collected all the boxes, Allison will send them to the troops fighting for us in the Middle East. We are all very excited to know that we are going to give back to the people who really deserve it!
