There is a wonderful opportunity for a recreational/vacation experience for the visually impaired at Camp Dogwood in Sherrill’s Ford, North Carolina. It is a place where visually impaired persons, also known as VIPs, can boat, fish, swim, water tube and participate in arts and crafts. There are off campus trips to shop, bowl, visit museums and even to visit a zoo.
The problem is how we can get thirty-five VIPs, caregivers and a Seeing Eye dog to the site in a safe and comfortable mode of transportation?
For the last five years this has been a project of the Lions of North Carolina 31-N led by the Wilmington Lions Club. With the support of other Lions Clubs and donations from the community money was raised to transport them in a late model Deluxe H345 Prevost motorcoache provided by Christian Tours. This year the cost of the transportation was over $3,600.
This year’s transportation was provided by the Lions for VIPs from New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Bladen, and Robinson Counties. The VIPs attended the Camp from June 11-17, 2017.
Camp Dogwood is a recreational facility located on Lake Norman in Catawba County. It operates a recreational program consisting of 10 one week overnight sessions for adults with blindness and visual impairment. Typically campers arrive on Sunday afternoons and depart the following Saturday morning.
It has hotel style guestrooms that are fully fitted with two full size beds, all linens, a private bathroom and individual heating/cooling. The grounds have paved roads and sidewalks for easy mobility.
The goal is to provide a week of fun and fellowship. The camp serves VIPs ages 18 years up to 100 years. Campers must be able to provide their own self-care. If they need assistance with self-care they may bring a caregiver with them.
The following Lions Clubs donated and supported this project: Wilmington, Shallotte, South Port, Hampstead, Burgaw, and Lumberton. Lions also provided camperships for those in need.
More information on Camp Dogwood can be found on its website.
More information on the Wilmington Lions Club can be found on its website and Facebook page.
Submitted by George Holston
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