The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario wants to send over 1,200 kids to camp this summer, but the organization needs your help.
It's hoping to raise $250,000 through the ongoing Fill The Bus Campaign, which would fill 38 buses with 33 kids apiece for a week of adventure, friendship, and growth.
In Sarnia alone, they're looking to bring in $27,500 to fund 138 students attending camp at the Jerry McCaw Family Centre.
General Manager Paul Skuza said every $200 raised sends one more kid to camp, and every dollar raised stays local.
"They're having fun outside, they're playing games, they're making friendships, they're being active, swimming, making arts and crafts," said Skuza. "They're creating those childhood memories by making friends and just being kids. Having a safe place for parents to drop off their kids is important. Not all parents get the summer off, so parents really appreciate us being able to look after their kids for the daytime in the summers."
Skuza said the feedback has been very positive over the years.
"It's ages four to 12, so some of them start at age four and they might be in camp with us for eight years before they age out," he said. "Some of them have even joined us on our team. They volunteer when they get a little bit older for high school volunteer hours. Some even start working at the Y as part time staff and become councilors themselves or become lifeguards. It's pretty neat to see some of the growth over the years with the kids that come through our programs."
Skuza said so far this year they've brought in over $10,000 in Sarnia-Lambton.
The Fill The Bus campaign wraps up April 30, and you can donate online, on the YMCA's website.
An exciting part of the fundraiser is coming up on July 11 when the Push The Bus competition, presented by Mainstreet Credit Union, will be held.
More details on that event are expected to be shared in the future.
The first annual Push The Bus event was held in 2022.
At the time, eight teams helped push a school bus through the parking lot to wrap up the campaign, which raised a total of $12,363.