Sunrise Day Camp-Pearl River

We asked them to roll up their sleeves, get a little dirty, and prepare to work – and that’s exactly what happened when over 45 volunteers descended upon Sunrise Day Camp – Pearl River to help prepare the grounds for this year’s summer season.  Volunteers of all ages came out for our second annual clean-up day and got busy sanding, painting, moving debris, cleaning, and planting to create a fresh, colorful and welcoming environment for our Sunrise Campers.

At Sunrise, safety is priority number one and for children with cancer that means special care must be taken to keep things safe and sanitary.  For that reason many volunteers focused on meticulously cleaning the tables and chairs in our Sunrise Pavilion, which our campers use throughout the camp day.  Other volunteers gave our “Round-up” bleachers a thorough sanding (to remove any rough edges or potential splinters) and a new coat of paint.  Still others spent hours clearing debris from the center of camp and surrounding trails.  Since some Sunrise campers struggle with mobility, tripping on a branch or a loose stone could cause serious injury.

Many volunteers made clean-up day a family affair.  No matter their age, everyone pitched in and found a way to give back to children with cancer.  Mother and daughter team Wendy and Jamie Nanus brought flats of flowers and devoted their day to beautifying our camp’s “Quiet Spot”, a special place where siblings can go during the camp day to be alone together.   Jamie remarked, “I can’t imagine being a kid and having to live with cancer.  I wanted to come today and help make this camp the most beautiful place they’ve ever seen.”

Links:

• Find Sunrise - Pearl River on Facebook