Free Summer Camp Offered to Qualified Sandy Victims

The following story was posted by Andrew Coen. It was written and reported by Barbara Capella Loehr. 

The youngest Hurricane Sandy victims in Wantagh and Seaford, as well as the entire New York City metropolitan region, might get a chance to go to camp for free this summer.

Through a program called Heal the Children, the American Camp Association New York and New Jersey said it'll provide a tuition-free camp experience to children whose families qualify. The association made the announcement on April 23, according to a report in Newsday, noting that free summer placements in New York and New Jersey will be made available to hundreds of children impacted by the October 29 superstorm who meet eligibility requirements.

Eligible families must have a combined income of $90,000 or less, must have lost their primary residence for 90 days or more and have lost half their income for three months, the association outlined in the report.
State Senate and Assembly leaders are joining with camp owners and directors to get the word out, according to the report.

"Providing children with the opportunity to attend summer camp - a place where they can forget their worries and just be kids - is one of the best ways to help them heal after the devastation caused by Sandy," said Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) in the report.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) noted in the report the camp group provided a similar program after September 11, 2001.He also said the initiative will "give distressed and displaced children a summer they can look forward to."

Interested families are encouraged to contact the American Camp Association at 212-391-5208.

The association indicated it'll match eligible children with a "camp that can provide the best experience," whether those are overnight or day-use facilities, and lengths of stay may vary, the report said.