Changes and Opportunities at Camp Kudzu

As we begin the 2021 fiscal year, I cannot help but reflect on these past few months and the many challenges Camp Kudzu has encountered. We have faced a myriad of obstacles, many of which have cascaded from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet in the wake of all of the changes and cancellations we have encountered at CK, my foremost emotion is pride. I cannot begin to state how proud I am of our committed team of staff and volunteers, of the accomplishments they have achieved throughout this past year (Camp KudZoom, our School Nurse Resources, and continuing education initiatives to name just a few), and how bright they—and you—make our future.

 

We have a lot of ground to make up in the coming months and we really need for the Kudzu Community to come together in a strong fashion to support our organization. We have a number of important opportunities where we need your help. In the wake of some difficult decisions, we remain committed to grow in our new virtual territories and resume hosting safe, live, and in-person programming BUT your support is crucial!

 

The first opportunity for our Kudzu Community to come together after many months is the upcoming Sugar Bowl on October 18th. Join us live at Bowlmor (stringent COVID precautions will be employed) or watch the festivities online. Support our bowlers who are ready to knock down some pins and raise money for Kudzu’s many upcoming programs.

 

In addition to the Sugar Bowl, there are many additional ways to have fun and support the Kudzu’s Community! For instance, there is room for your own creativity to shine if you would like to plan and host your own safe backyard event—check out our Third-Party Toolkit here for ideas and additional information. And, of course, you can always Just Make A Donation.  

 

Following the Sugar Bowl, we are excited to bring live programming back! After months of critical consultation and planning with our medical advisory board, Fall Family Camp will be held from October 23rd through 25th. In addition, we are hard at work organizing our upcoming winter Teen Retreat. As always, we are incredibly grateful for camp partners and their tireless efforts to provide a safe environment for us to get together.

 

This year will look different from prior years in a lot of ways, but the circumstances we have all been living with this past year have provided valuable opportunities for us to grow and better serve our T1D community. I share all of this wonderful news as the Chair of Camp Kudzu’s Board of Directors to make certain you know we can’t do it alone: we need your help now more than ever!