Camp Allegheny provides lasting memories

WAYNESBURG – The mantra for Camp Allegheny kids is “I can’t wait for next year. It’s the best camp ever, and I made lots of friends.”
Each year, Sister Audrey Quinn, director of the Salvation Army Greene County Service Center, musters up busloads of kids age 6 to 14 to attend the Salvation Army’s Camp Allegheny, a 90-acre spread with comfortable cabins, wooded nature trails, an Olympic-size pool and big fields just waiting to be played in.
“We sent 30 kids this year and hope to have over 40 in 2014,” Quinn said. She held up the camp flier, with its list of things to do – archery, boating, fishing, arts and crafts, teamwork cleverly disguised as games, all geared to give kids lessons in Bible-inspired values along with memories to last a lifetime. “Signup for next year is in March and don’t forget – it’s free,” Quinn said.
Now that summer is drawing to a close and as those kids who had such fun at camp go back to school, agencies, organizations and individuals around the county have a mantra of their own: “Food Security.”
With fall just around the corner and winter looming on the horizon, the pace of providing needed community services is already quickening. There’s good reason to make September Hunger Action Month in Greene County because now’s the time to make plans for fundraisers and start rounding up resources.
Quinn and her small army of volunteers and sponsors work year-round making sure no one in the county goes hungry or cold or homeless. Her service center at 131 First St., Waynesburg, is the place to go to receive emergency food, clothing and household furnishings and it’s also a friendly place to volunteer to help sort donations and keep the shelves and racks filled with necessities.
“We’re getting ready for Project Bundle-up even now,” Quinn said. “Signup begins Sept. 3, so give me a call or stop in.”
The Army will muster out its Treasures For Children program as the holiday season approaches. It is similar to the Catholic Charity Angel Tree, where anonymous kids are identified by age, gender, clothing size and taste in toys and volunteer would-be Santas can shop with confidence for the child or children of their choice.
For more information, or to sign up for Project Bundle Up call Quinn weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 724-852-1479. For information on Camp Allegheny 2014, go online, campallegheny.salvationarmypa.org.