H2O Says "Thank You!"

WE DID IT!! It took a little more than 30 days, but now that all the pledges are in, H2O - Help to Others, is officially over its $30,000 “For the Kids” fundraising campaign goal. To date, H2O has raised $31,787 through student fundraisers and donations. H2O couldn’t have done it without awesome support from the community. Donations were received from 194 individuals, businesses, churches and organizations. These dollars will help make H2O’s 2010 programming possible, including this year’s H2O Summer Service Camp. Thank you H2O sponsors!

H2O has much to celebrate. Middle school campers that attended the first two sessions of H2O Service Camp have accomplished great things in our community. Motivated and instructed by outstanding college-aged H2O camp counselors, the 11-14 year old youth donated hundreds of hours of assistance to Ronald McDonald House, The Cleveland Foodbank, Laura’s Home, Hope Lodge, Lakewood childcare centers, and local senior centers. Campers have also started to harvest fresh vegetables that they’ve grown and tended in LEAF plots at Madison Park. The produce is given to Lakewood Christian Service Center for distribution to their clients.

H2O’s 2010 Summer Service Camp theme is “The Power of One.” Campers hope the community will support their efforts to make a difference in the world by choosing an action from H2O’s wish list:

• Donate clean, gently used clothing to H2O’s annual “Clothes 4 Kids” Sale. Infant through adult sizes are being accepted at any Lakewood Fire Station through Sunday, July 25th. No miscellaneous household items, please.
• Donate gently used, new school supplies at any Lakewood Fire Stations through July 25th also. H2O campers will rejuvenate and recycle used items. All new and used donations will be given to Lakewood Christian Service Center to be distributed to families in need this fall.
• Share used/new baseball equipment  - H2O is helping LHS alum, Joe Trela, collect all kinds of baseball items for impoverished children in Nicaragua, including: uniforms, batting helmets, balls, bats, gloves, bases. Joe is working with Rotary International to distribute donated items. He became aware of a tremendous need for equipment when his Eastern Michican baseball team served on a special project in Nicaragua. Go to www.up2bat.org to find out more about Joe’s effort, or call H2O at 529-4273 if you have items to donate.
• Attend H2O’s Dunk Tank Fundraiser on Tuesday, July 27th – Join H2O at Around the Corner – 18616 Detroit Ave.- for food and fun. Ten percent of all food orders placed between 5-8pm will be donated to H2O.  Add in a chance to dunk H2O camp staff members: Nick Aylward, Margaret Miranda, Trevor Davis, Caitie King, Lauren Smigelski, Max Listkowski, Jamie Zychowski, Johnny Rowell, Becca Armbruster and Owen Johnson, and you have a recipe for pure FUN!!
• Shop at H2O’s “Clothes 4 Kids Super Sale on Saturday, July 31st - Don’t miss this amazing sale! Over 20,000 items will be available at unbelievable prices. The sale runs from 9am to 3pm in the E. Café of Lakewood High School. Proceeds from "Clothes 4 Kids" benefit H2O Summer Service Camp.
• Visit H2O’s booth at the Lakewood Arts Festival on Saturday, August 7th - Campers have been busy creating one-of-a-kind items for your home, or to give as gifts. Proceeds from this sale will help H2O provide an adapted tricycle for a Lakewood child in need.

H2O “Help to Others” service learning program is operated by the City of Lakewood, Department of Human Services Division of Youth, in partnership with Lakewood City Schools. This award winning program is also made possible through generous support from the entire community.

Watch for more news from the two remainging sessions of H2O Camp as the summer continues. To become an H2O sponsor and receive a personal note from a middle school student detailing their experience at camp, go to www.thelakewoodfoundation.org/H2O, or call 529-6045 for a sponsor brochure. It’s never too late to become a “Power of One” for Lakewood’s young volunteers!