Methodist Church ministry brings kids to fairgrounds for weeklong summer camp
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“Camp in the Community” was held at the Anderson County Fairgrounds during the second week of June.
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Campers participated in multiple activities throughout the weeklong event sponsored by area Methodist churches.
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The camp’s purpose is to share the gospel in a tangible way and also develop lasting relationships between the community and church.
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“Camp in the Community is a ministry of the Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries.
There were 25 kids, six guest counselors and many volunteers on hand at the Anderson County Fairgrounds last week for the “Camp in the Community” event sponsored by the area’s Methodist churches.
Held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, the annual camp was designed for kids whose families can’t afford traditional summer camps, and was part of the Methodist Church’s Maryville-based Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries, said coordinator Margaret Hewitt.
The Clinton event was co-sponsored by seven area Methodist churches — Memorial, St. Mark’s, Asbury, Sinking Springs, Norris Memorial, Andersonville and Heiskell, Hewitt said.
“We had six counselors, five of them from foreign countries — England, Germany, New Zealand, Colombia and Guatemala,” she said.
“Our Clinton City Schools provided breakfast and lunch for the kids,” she said.
Second Harvest provided take-home bags each day for the kids with food items, including fruit.
According to the website, “Camp in the Community is a product of Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries.
It is a weeklong day camp program for children in poverty.
The camp operates in partnership with a host church located in an impoverished community, alongside a sponsor church in the Holston Conference.
“We provide a high-quality summer camp experience to those who could not otherwise afford to attend summer camp,” the website says.
“This is for the purpose of sharing the gospel in a tangible way and developing lasting relationships between the community and the church. In addition to reaching children in poverty, the program works with area youth to develop them as leaders in the church.
“Youth are provided leadership and childcare training and serve as assistant counselors,” the post noted.
Hewitt said the camp was moved to the fairgrounds this year after being held in the Norris Commons area last year.
“More kids were able to walk to the camp this year with it being held nearer to their neighborhoods,” she said.
