Pasco PACK camp for disabled kids is in jeopardy of closing

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - 10-year-old Ricky Risser is always on the move.  "He's very active. And he's in perpetual motion," said his father, Rick Risser.

When he was born, his parents were surprised to find out their little boy had Down syndrome.  "You know there was always a chance, they said, but whoever thought it would happen," said Risser.

Ricky goes to Cody River Elementary School, but during the summers, there was never much for him to do, until his family discovered the Pasco Association for Challenged Kids and P.A.C.K. Camp.

"The camp is set up for kids like him, so he can succeed there," said Risser.

Barry Cohen and his wife Paula started the camp in 1997. They realized the need because their own son, Gregory, has autism.

"No matter what kind of disability these kids have, autism, CP, down syndrome, they are just kids, they want to have fun. They want to have a good time," said Cohen.

But that good time is in jeopardy. The camp used to get $50,000 from the state, but cutbacks have put an end to that. Cohen says they've been running on miracles the last few years.

Specialized counselors even took a 50% pay cut. They need at least $20,000 to fund this summer's camp or else kids like Ricky may be stuck at home.

"A lot of people have asked, 'Why don't you get volunteers to work?'" People don't understand you can't just get people off the street to work with these kids," said Cohen.

Cohen says P.A.C.K. is the only summer program in Pasco County that takes kids with all types of disabilities. And they hope to get the help they need to keep doing it for years to come.

Pasco Association for Challenged Kids, Inc., (also known as P.A.C.K.) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing services for disabled children in Pasco County, Florida.  Find out more at http://www.pascopack.org