Description
For my senior service learning project, I volunteered my time to run Christ Camp. I worked with my sister, Hannah Shull, to help the Lutheran Community Outreach Center's food pantry. At Christ Camp, children would play games, eat healthy snacks, make crafts, and shoot basketball. The Christ Camps were held on June 3rd, June 17th, July 1st, July 15th, and August 5th. Each Christ Camp had a theme from the Bible. June 3rd was based on Creation. June 17th was based on Noah's Ark. Christmas in July was the theme for the camp held on July 1st. On July 15th, Easter was the theme of the camp. The last Christ Camp, August 5th, focused on God's love. The hope was to bring Jesus into the children's lives. We were asked to organize one more Christ Camp than we had planned because the children and families requested it. I met the required hours by preparing supplies, setting up, cleaning up, and hanging out with the children at Christ Camp. The hours will be proven by our mentor, Sean Smith, and pictures. Children were sent home with crafts and books so they can remember Christ Camp and their experiences.
Community Involvement
Christ Camp provided a fun and safe place for children to come when their guardians were waiting for food at the food pantry. It was rewarding to the participants and me. Christ Camp was an opportunity for under-served children to have a positive experience in a church while enjoying group activities and also one-on-one attention.
Brief History
Christ Camp assisted the Lutheran Community Outreach Center's food pantry also know as LCOC's food pantry. The Lutheran Community Outreach Center's food pantry has expanded out of a closet at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The LCOC was built in 2010 at 16 East Michigan Street to accommodate the food pantry and other outreach missions. Food is distributed from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of each month. More than 250,000 pounds of food is given away to the community each year.
Mentor
My mentor was Reverend Sean Smith. He is the associate pastor at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer which is church affiliated with the Lutheran Community Outreach Center. Reverend Smith was helping Hannah and me at most of the Christ Camps, and he regularly volunteers at the food pantry.