[July 29, 2011] Campers make it their mission to serve in Florence Tweet Jul 29, 2011 (Florence Morning News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- FLORENCE, S.C. -- Seventy-five children from three churches in Florence have come together this week to have an effect on the community in an inaugural mission camp. Highland Park United Methodist, First Presbyterian and Central United Methodist churches are collaborating to help people and nonprofit agencies and help children learn about the importance of serving. For several years. Highland Park has held a summer mission camp for children and Kim Dowd, the church's director of children's ministries, said she loved the idea. "It's been a unique collaboration of churches and it's been beneficial for everyone," Dowd said. Youth in grades one through six from the churches have spent the week visiting several nonprofit agencies to help and learn about their purpose and how they help the community. Some of the agencies served were The CARE House of the Pee Dee, the S.C. Disabilities and Special Needs Workshop of Florence County, Florence Area Humane Society, House of Hope, the Presbyterian Agency for Developmentally Disabled (P.A.D.D.) House and Lighthouse Ministries. On Thursday, children were busy at Lighthouse Ministries. They brought food, clothing, books and toys, then sorted the books and stacked the shelves of the food pantry with their donations. Lighthouse Ministries Executive Director Cecilia Meggs said one thing she wanted the children to realize is that they can help with little things like stacking books, diapers and canned food. "It gives children an opportunity to see that there are people in the community that need their help and it's not just about taking care of themselves but also helping and learn it through a child's eyes," Meggs said. On Tuesday, camper Jenerette Stratton went with her group to spend time at the P.A.D.D. House. While she was there, they made bracelets and placemats with the residents and Jenerette said it was fun. "We got to know them. I learned that even if they have disabilities they are still people and they shouldn't be treated different," she said. "People should volunteer because it will make our community better and make people happy." Edwin Dargan did the mission camp last year at Highland Park and said this year was fun, too. "I had a lot of fun because you're helping a lot of people," he said. The helping didn't stop with the nonprofits. The youth decorated picture frames, made cards and cookies for homebound members of the churches, wrote letters to the military, and held a bake sale, using items they baked themselves, to raise money to buy school supplies for children in need. Today, the week caps off with the children hosting a fellowship luncheon for guests and representatives from the agencies they served this week. "It's been a huge success and we're very pleased with not just the number of kids who wanted to spend part of their summer seriving others but with their heart and their spirit," Dowd said. "They really get that they are God's hand and feet in our community and they can make a difference even at their young ages. To see more of the Florence Morning News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www2.scnow.com/community/morningnews/. Copyright (c) 2011, Florence Morning News, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]