Thank you to the many donors who supported the ministry of Whispering Winds this year! Because of you, we were able to do so much – see below for a report on the many blessings!
Swimming Pool Maintenance
We are keeping the pool in tip-top shape! Our pool got a brand-new coat of paint before the 2019 season began, and our Family Campers were able to enjoy nice, cool water, to get out of the summer heat. Our Special Needs Family Campers especially enjoyed the pool, spending time swimming, lounging, and sunbathing with their buddies!
This Summer, we introduced a fun, new game for our campers, 9-square! We also made some important upgrades, like a new coat of paint for our Gaga pit, and we’re in the process of renovating our mud pit. Be on the lookout for more exciting things to come in 2020, including new harnesses for our zipline and climbing wall, and more games for our visitors!
YoungLives made its first visit to Whispering Winds in 2019. YoungLives is an organization dedicated to teaching teen mothers about the love and hope that Christ has for them, as a branch of Young Life. During their time at camp, teen mothers were paired with mentors who empowered them to make positiive decisions, set and achieve goals for themselves, and live a future rooted in Christ. These moms received much love and support, reminding them that God’s loves is endless for them and their babies.
Scholarships
Our dedicated Women’s Auxiliary members not only pray for our camp and serve as volunteers, but they support our scholarship fund. The impact of their commitment to support the camp financially is invaluable. The scholarship program has allowed many needy families and students to attend camp – 58 families received a scholarship to Family Camp in 2019! In addition, 10 CCAs, 3 seniors and one under-served parish also received funding.
Military Scholarships
Thanks to a generous donation, we were able to scholarship 28 military families to Family Camp! There were active military families at each weekend. Funds also helped pay for supplies, support staff, speakers, etc. Several families this summer experienced Family Camp as their loved one was deployed. This was a special gift for them because the involvement with other families provided encouragement and a deep faith connection.
Foster Kids Camp
Many children placed in foster care are separated from their siblings. Camp Connect ensures they have the chance to visit and maintain their relationship. We received donations that will send three foster kids to Camp Connect next summer! From one volunteer: “This has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in the past three years. It melts my heart to see a child write, ‘all we need is family’ on his scrapbook. Getting the opportunity to make that happen is indescribable.”
Underserved Youth
It was a blessing to offer grant funding to low income parishes to help with the retreat fees for their confirmation candidates. In addition, we helped many non-profits such as Noah Homes, who advocate for adults with developmental disabilities and Village of Promise, who impact the lives of children with incarcerated parents. In all, 44 organizations received grants in 2019!
