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Burn victims benefit from generous Eagles donation
With a motto of "people helping people," the Greencastle Eagles Lodge is set to provide meaningful and long-lasting support for two local children to attend the Hoosier Burn Camp in Brookston near Lafayette this summer.
Although the attendees are yet to be determined, Eagles President James White said at a recent check presentation that whatever help the lodge can provide isn't enough.
"We can't ever do enough for burn victims, especially children who have gone through something like that," White said. "At first, we decided to send one kid who has experienced a serious burn of some sort to (Hoosier) Burn Camp. But then we thought, 'Why not two?' It's $1,000 per kid and we have the funds."
White went on to say that, once the proposal was on the table to send two kids to camp instead of one, unanimous approval immediately followed at a recent Eagles council meeting.
"Thanks to their burns, these kids will experience more than just pain -- they might have trouble feeling like they're fitting in or accepted too," White said. "This camp will hopefully show them that they are still the same as anyone else."
An Army veteran, White said he had experienced a burn on his forearm that took nearly nine months to heal. He got off easy compared to some of the burn victims he's met, he said.
White then went on to explain how the idea first took shape.
"We started talking about this about a year ago when (firefighter) Christy Glass told me about this camp," White said. "I was really touched by her story and the stories of these kids.
"We want to see them grow up into the great people we know they'll be."
Glass has a combined experience of 26 years at the camp alongside retired Greencastle Fire Department firefighter Bob Campbell. The pair will be counseling campers again this summer.
Auxiliary Eagles President for Women Paula Shepherd added that it is important to let these youngsters know that they are still capable of achieving great things.
"I'm really happy to be part of something like this," Shepherd said. "It's just so nice to know that we're helping these kids to grow and heal."
Another GFD firefighter involved in raising funds for the camp is Jeff Elkins.
Elkins put together a golf scramble earlier in the year with all proceeds benefiting the camp.
Hoosier Burn Camp Executive Director Mark Koopman was in attendance for the check presentationy, saying that, without the help and support of organizations like the Eagles, a great number of children would never get to experience camp.
"We're expecting about 70-plus kids at this camp, which is the fourth one of the year," Koopman said, citing that camps continue throughout the year. "We'll have hundreds of kids throughout the year who we hope to educate and teach that they are capable of amazing things.
"Another goal of ours is to educate the parents and provide support for them," Koopman added.
Running from May 29- June 3, this 18th annual Hoosier Burn Camp will feature more than typical camp activities.
Helicopters and more than 300 motorcycles will be part of the Wednesday, June 1 activities in which parents, friends and the general public are invited to attend a day of camp.
"Somewhere around 700 to 800 people are expected," Koopman said. "We'll have big-boy toys too, and we'll have burgers and (hot) dogs for everyone."
Hoosier Burn Camp is located in Battle Ground and conducts events throughout the year for burn victims and their families. Skiing trips, Children's Museum visits and Indianapolis Indians games are just a few examples of activities held by the camp.
For more information, persons may contact Hoosier Burn Camp. by calling 765-567-0116 or via email at info@hoosierburncamp.org or visit the camp's Facebook page at facebook.com/HoosierBurnCamp.