Well, it's that time of year again - the time when I must hold my hand out to you to ask for year-end donations.  Each year when I hold out my hand, my heart is what fills up.  I can never quite believe how generous our camp families, cultural community, and friends of both can be towards Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families (HCAF)!  It just does my heart good, and REALLY helps fill the coffers that have been spent and spent to create these meaningful camp experiences for families.

I love what one parent wrote on a camp evaluation this year. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but it was along the lines of "My son looked at me one day and said "I live for three days (at Heritage Camp) every year!'" And there are many other comments so similar to that about how our camps make a difference in a child's life, a teen's life, and in a parent's life. I know that is certainly true for my family.

I don't know if you are aware of how vital your individual donations are to HCAF.  It is very difficult to convince foundations who are struggling to give grants during these tough economic times anyway, that things like self-esteem, identity building, and a sense of pride in who you are and where you came from is important in the life of an adopted child; or that support networks, education, and connection with each other is important in the life of an adoptive family.  They simply don't see our need as being great, in comparison to organizations who serve the underpriveleged or the ill or the hungry.  But darn it, those things ARE important, and help to develop happy, healthy children and families.  What could be more important? So, we have to rely on individual donations, and that is why my hand is out to you yet again!  I know you will fill my heart this year as always, and for that I am forever grateful. 

To donate, simply go to our web site, www.heritagecamps.org. Thank you!