To our Camp family:
In challenging times like these, there is no greater comfort than community. Here at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, we are reminded of that every day and our hearts and thoughts remain firmly with all of you as we navigate the current uncertainty together.
During these last few weeks, Hole in the Wall has taken every step necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our Camp community amid the evolving COVID-19 situation. All residential, Hospital Outreach and Family Outreach programs currently are suspended, all staff are working from home and all spring fundraising events are either cancelled or postponed.
Today, as we continue to keep safety at the heart of all that we do, I am writing to share that The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has made the incredibly hard decision to cancel our traditional summer camp program for the 2020 season. While I know that this news will be very difficult for our children and families, I assure you that it is a necessary decision and a last resort informed by input from members of our medical community, public health officials and other experts who have been advising Camp leadership during this situation. In addition to ensuring the continued safety of our campers, staff and volunteers, we also need to consider the lasting strains on the healthcare system and how recruiting nurses and doctors will be very challenging – if not impossible – in the months ahead. Unfortunately, this is the only responsible option for us.
While it may seem impossible to imagine a summer without the sounds of joy and laughter at Camp, we know from experience that we can make the magic of Hole in the Wall happen anywhere. Our staff is comprised of some of the most compassionate and creative people in the world. They are eager to embrace our Founder Paul Newman’s spirit of innovation so that we can continue to bring joy, hope and healing to our children and families when they need us the most.
Right now, all families who were scheduled to attend our spring family weekends are being sent Camp care packages filled with lots of Hole in the Wall fun to help bring some smiles in the days ahead. Staff are also reaching out to our parents and caregivers to provide resources and offer support while also sharing out plenty of craft projects and other fun family activities on Camp’s social media channels. And last, but certainly not least, the staff will be developing virtual Camp experiences so that our Hole in the Wall community can continue to stay connected this summer and experience “a different kind of healing” in different ways over the coming months.
To keep up to date on The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’s response to COVID-19, I invite you visit our website at https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/News/covid-19-updates/
On behalf of all of us here at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, we hope that you all remain safe in the days ahead, and we look forward to seeing you in happier times.
Most sincerely,
Jimmy Canton, CEO