SEND A KID TO CAMP

John F. Kelly photo from washingtonpost.com/staff

Commentary
 Inspired by 6/6/11 John Kelly's Washington, Washington Post print edition.

John Kelly's Washington column for years has energetically reminded readers of kids ready for help, especially during summer. Nothing has changed. On  Monday, June 6, 2011, as it does every summer, the column focused on Send a Kid to Camp. 

Today's column includes a description of how one of the first children in the Washington area came to get involved as a summer camper in the early 1960s at the first location: Mike Shirley. He later helped clear the second site, property bought just for the camp, the project led by George Greene, who located Mike Shirley years before. "George Greene passed away this year," writes Kelly, "but his legacy remains in the cabins and trails of Moss Hollow and in people such as Mike Shirley, who, after graduating from Springarn High, went to Columbia College of Art and Design...and now teaches art at Crossland High in Temple Hills. And he still goes to Moss Hollow every summer, now as a director." Mike said of WWII veteran, George Greene:  "He talked to us about becoming strong members of society...about doing right in our family...The camp was to create an atmosphere where the poorest of the poor had a place to come. And it's not just throwing out a ball and playing with them. It was a place to prepare us for the American dream, a place we can call our own...."

Because of this information from John Kelly's Washington, readers may choose to enjoy Wednesday lunches or dinners at any of Clyde's restaurants. This week's special Wednesday menu to benefit Send a Kid to Camp is Alaskan salmon. According to the restaurants, echoing John Kelly, "proceeds will benefit Send a Kid to Camp." The camp is Moss Hollow in Fauquier County, Virginia.   

"Greene thought that kids like Mike would benefit from getting out of the city and into the great outdoors," wrote John Kelly today. Mike Shirley and others have proved him right.

(After Mr. Greene's death, Mike wrote on the Legacy page for veterans:

"...if George Greene never came 
to my house in Kenilworh to ask me to join the 
Ivakota program in 1963 I would not 
be the person I am today. he taught me..."
- Michael Shirley).

This summer's Send a Kid to Camp goal: $500,000. To donate online, click here. 
To send by post, Kelly wrote, make check payable to: Send a Kid to Camp
and send to 
Send a Kid to Camp
P. O. Box 96237
Washington, DC 20090-6237

Dear Reader, If you do not live near Washington, DC, and won't be visiting this summer, then why not give online or send a check, for any amount? And I hope you can also find a similar camp operating near you. There are likely big needs needing big hearts and ideas and help. Summer should be much brighter for it!
Stay cool.

About John Kelly's column: "John Kelly's Washington" appears Sunday through Thursday online and in The Post. He started at The Post in 1989 as the deputy editor of the Weekend section. Since then he's edited Weekend, founded KidsPost and been a general assignment reporter in Metro. He drives an old sports car and plays the drums--though not at the same time. He lives in Silver Spring, where he has one wife and two daughters.(source: Washington Post)

Note: The famed Old Ebbitt Grill in DC, across the side street from the Department of the Treasure building, is also part of this summer's Send a Kid to Camp, along with the 13 area Clyde's restaurants. If able, wouldn't you love to dine at Clyde's or at Old Ebbitt's Grill every Wednesday this summer to help a good cause? If you go to Old Ebbitt instead of, or in addition, to Clyde's on a Wednesday this summer, if you've never been there before, consider that it's just steps from The White House and museums in downtown Washington. Established in 1856, it was a favorite of Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore Roosevelt...."

Inspired by and quoting from John Kelly's column, The Washington Post, topic "Send a Kid to Camp"
(c) 2011 Opinari Writers