Several more children from the Parent Resource Center’s (PRC) Outreach Program are now able to attend the organization’s summer camp program, thanks to the WE CARE Fund, part of the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA).
The WE CARE Fund, which has donated to the PRC Outreach Program since December 2011, gave a $2,500 check to the organization to fund the summer camp for Outreach children, according to Kathleen Wright, cochair of the WE CARE Fund. The WE CARE Fund advisory board approved the grant for the scholarships that will cover attendance expenses for several at-risk children, ages 2 to 5 in Port Washington who are members of the PRC, Wright said.
Grant approvals are typically given to requests that will help as many individuals in the Nassau County area as possible, so the WE CARE Fund gets the “best bang out of their buck,” Wright said.
Shelly Persaud, the PRC’s Director of Operations, said the summer program is intended to be an extension of the programs offered by the PRC during the school year. “We’re so thankful that we can do this because every little bit of enrichment that a child can get is so important,” Persaud said.
Persaud also added how Port Washington is a town with extensive budget restraints for many, and programs like this continue to allow children social exposure and enrichment even while school is out of session.
PRC’s summer camp runs for six weeks and is available for children between ages 2½ and 5½, Persaud said. Younger age groups attend camp three days a week for two hours a day, while the older children attend camp five days a week for three hours a day.
A small facility of three classrooms allows for a more intimate space for children to socialize, learn and have fun while being a part of different activities, including art, science, movement and more, Persaud said.
Directors of the camp expect between 15 and 17 children to attend this year, which is similar to the attendance of past years. Persaud said that for many of the children, this is their first camp experience.
Children are placed in the care of New York State certified teachers and are able to attend field trips to local venues, such as Manorhaven Park, Sands Point Preserve and local fire departments, as well as take part in different activities, including story time, arts and crafts, snack time, play time, music and science.
“Many of the kids in our Outreach program would not otherwise be able to attend camp, so we are truly grateful,” Leila Noor, PRC’s director of development, said. “Camp is important to our Outreach children because it gets them used to separating from their parents for a long period of time, and it is also a great way to meet new friends.”
The PRC’s Outreach Program provides children from low-income families with early childhood classes and enriching experiences, such as the summer camp, while offering a network of parental support, Persaud said. The program includes Stepping Stones classes, the scholarship program and English as a Second Language classes.
The WE CARE Fund, a part of the NCBA’s charitable arm, assists children, elderly and others in need through numerous projects and donations throughout its 27 years of service. They have been able to raise more than $3 million for more than 100 local charitable causes.
