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Rotary's Camp Florida facing funding challenge amidst COVID

Rotary's camp Florida
Posted at 10:48 PM, Dec 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-31 23:32:50-05

BRANDON, Fla- — Chanatip (Pim) Sorber looks forward to Faces of Courage’s camp each year at Rotary’s Camp Florida.

Living with cancer for the past ten years, she attends an adult camp and volunteers at a kids camp as part of the program for those touched by cancer and blood disorders. She said it provides a break, fun and a meaningful experience.

“The camp has changed a lot of my perspective to look at life,” she said.

This year, the program has pivoted online.

“We just need to make sure when COVID’s over and it’s safe to come out again that camp is there waiting for us,” said Peggie Sherry, the founder and CEO of Faces of Courage.

“This camp needs to be here for these kids. When I see the difference it makes in the lives of these kids I know it has to stay. This is something we have to save,” said Liz Fields, the executive director of Rotary’s Camp Florida.

The camp allows user groups to rent the facility to host programs for those impacted by special needs, diseases, disorders, and disabilities. But now Fields said they’re facing a funding challenge.

“I think in two to three months the well is gonna run dry,” she said. “We’re trying to find alternative sources of income during the meantime but of course nobody’s using facilities like this so we’re really kind of hoping somebody will come through with a donation for us,” Fields said, adding that they’re already at bare bones.

In the meantime, Sorber is looking forward to when she can return to camp.

“It’s meaningful and I’m looking forward to camp each year, it’s my personal milestone, I have to go to the camp,” she said.