One of the city’s most beloved programs received a much needed boost this month, as the Cass County 100 Women Who Care recently donated nearly $3,000 to Fitch Camp.

The service organization raised the money from its various members after they voted to donate to the Dowagiac summer camp program during their quarterly meeting in July. The donation was directed the Fitch Foundation Board, which supervises the operation of the Sister Lakes campsite, located on the shores of Cable Lake.

With the summer season recently coming to a close for the camp, the donation — one of the largest made to the camp in recent history — will be a massive boost as the program enters another offseason, according to Fitch Foundation Board President Dave Mahar.

In addition to the 100 Women Who Care’s gift, the Pokagon Fund has also shared some generosity with Fitch Camp, issuing a nearly $10,000 grant to help camp staff make some improvements to the activities court on the grounds. The work is expected to be complete by the time the next busload of campers arrives next year.

We are delighted to see the community once again step up to support of Dowagiac’s most beloved institutions.

As we have stated in the past, we are big fans of what Fitch Camp offers local children.

Open to elementary and middle school students attending school in the Dowagiac Union Schools district, Fitch Camp gives local children a chance to enjoy the outdoors, play some fun games and make some new friends instead of being cooped up throughout summer break.

The best part is that not only are attendees going somewhere close to home, but parents are only required to spend $1 per day to send their children Fitch Camp. The fee covers not only admission but also meals and transportation, meaning parents just have to drop their kids off at the bus stop like they would during the school year and the camp will take care of the rest.

On top of the benefits it provides the younger children, high school and college students also have a chance to volunteer as camp counselors, right in their own backyard.

Of course, with such a meager burden placed on families, the foundation board is heavily reliant on the generosity of the community to keep rates as miniscule as they are. Which is why gifts like that from the 100 Women Who Care or grants from the Pokagon Fund are so crucial to its continued success.

However, even small donations go a long way, so even if someone only has a few dollars to spare they should consider making a donation to keep one of the city’s most cherished places going.

We know it will be money well spent.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.