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Your Support
Gave 292 youth financial assistance for camp last summer
Gave 28 local youth the opportunity to learn to swim
Taught 54 Counselors-in-Training confidence and leadership skills
Allowed 131 Day Campers enjoy roasting marshmallows, arts and crafts, and much more
Helped 172 families bond through games, skits, and arts & crafts at family camp
Our story starts about 25 years ago. As a child I always attended day camp at Stonestown YMCA. Every year one of our overnights was at Jones Gulch. I looked forward to it tremendously and always wished that I could attend sleep-away camp, but my mom was a single mom and could not afford to send me.
When my kids became school aged, I knew for sure that I wanted them to experience camp in the summer. We attended Christmas in the Redwoods event a few years ago at Camp Jone Gulch and ever since my kids have been asking to go to camp there. My response was always “we’ll see” because I know camp is very expensive and did not know how I was going to afford it.
Because of the financial assistance program my daughter was able to attend this year and I cannot tell you how incredible of a blessing this was. As a parent, I was very nervous about her being away from home for that many days without really knowing how she was doing. Would she be ok without me?
When I came to pick her up I found a happy, confident, girl. She had made new friends, she was raving about the food, wanted to show us everything that made camp “hers”. I feel like in the week she was gone she matured and grew so much.
If I could write a thank you note to each and every donor I would. You have blessed our family and created a very special memory and experience for my child that I know she will never ever forget. Please know that your generosity is appreciated and not taken for granted!
Sincerely,
Alexis
mom to Aidan, age 8
![](https://www.ymcasf.org/sites/default/files/aiden_0_0.jpg)