Pastor Frederick A. James served in three wars including Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
James said he became interested in Camp Corral when his son was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom to help his grandson cope with his father being away.
The child, who’s now an adult, was in kindergarten at the time.
“Every since then, I’ve been helping out and providing donations, baskets, bikes for girls and boys and the 50-50 drawing,” said James, an executive board member for Camp Corral and also serves as the building chairman.
Camp Corral’s mission is to transform the lives of children of wounded, ill and fallen military heroes by providing camp, advocacy and enrichment programs.
The organization’s mission is “Empowering America’s military children to live their best lives possible,” according to its website.
One hundred percent of children that Camp Corral serves have a parent who is wounded, ill or has died as a result of their military service.
“Twenty-four percent of these children have more than one parent who has served, and more than 50 percent shared that no one understands what it is like being a military child,” the website stated. “Having a wounded, ill or fallen parent comes with unique challenges, like being a caregiver or traveling long distances for VA (Veteran Administration) appointments.
“These children face hardships and make sacrifices beyond their years. They deserve specialized programs which provides them with the opportunities to build emotional resilience and transformational skills to live their best lives possible.”
Camp Corral has a major impact on each child, and also on the entire family unit.
In addition to the joy and hope parents feel as the result of their child’s camp experiences, they often are able to reconnect as a couple and strengthen their relationship while their child is away, according to the website.
Camp Corral offers a Summer Kids’ Camp in many states throughout the nation which run through June and July.
The Summer Camp is offered to children ages 8 to 15 of wounded, ill and fallen military service members and veterans.
“They do a wonderful job with the kids,” James said. “I wish more people would get involved to help.”
Camp Corral partners with the Golden Corral, 1519 W. River in Elyria, and is sponsored by the Disabled Americans Veterans, he said.
The Camp Corral Raffle contests will run through April 6 and all winners will be picked by the employees of Golden Corral.
“Disabled American Veterans like to publicly thank the owner of Golden Corral store No. 961,” James said.
