We talk allot about helping veterans with issues after they come home, or even while they are overseas. Many come back with real issues, like Physical injuries or memories they think no one else has and they often times have to deal with it alone.
What about the kids who have lost a parent, or one comes home with these issues?
How do the kids deal with a lost parent from Iraq, or one who is completely disabled due to some Physical or Mental Issue related to a war?
The Golden Corral Restaurant thought about this and decided to do something about it.
Several years ago Golden Corral came up with the idea of creating a Free one week long Summer Camp for the children of these soldiers so they can share their experiences - so they know they are not alone.
Golden Corral Restaurants called the camp: Camp Corral.
Working with the 4H camps around the country they managed to raise enough money to send about 2,200 children to a week long camp in 9 locations across the country.
Not to leave the YMCA out - they are also involved in some of the camps and hey also do a fabulous job.
They immediately began receiving support from those in Military Bases, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and several other service organization to get the camps going. In fact - the Disabled American Veterans had a feature article on these camps in this months magazine.
This camp is 100% donation funded, allot of it coming from these service organizations like the DAV.
El Rusbo, Sean, George Noory, Michael Medved - here is an organization that is completely non-political and would make you audiences very happy if you interviewed them - and they love to talk about their camps.
The CEO of Golden Corral Restaurants designed Leadership Training into these camps so these children play hard and learn leadership through swimming, fishing, canoeing, archery, the list goes on and on.
The National Commander of the DAV said: "You would be hard pressed to find a company more committed to veterans and their families that Golden Corral. They've helped immeasurably without service programs over the years and continue to seek and find ways to serve our communities."
That was not just a PR statement either - it was a heart felt statement.
The best part of the camp is the fact that these kids meet other kids who are going through the same things that they are and many of them make life long friendships due to these shared experiences.
The best thing you can do with a guy with PTSD is to remind him that he is not alone and his reactions are normal for what he has been though.
Same with kids - their feelings and experiences are normal for what they are going though and that one summer camp can make all the difference in heir lives.
Did we mention that the children go to the camp for free and that the camp is not only fun for the children but the parents get a week free of children. The feed back from the parents has been tremendous.
Everybody wins.
As for the kids out there, please do not forget:
THE CURE FOR GULF WAR ILLNESS UPDATE 1
THE CURE FOR CANCER UPDATE 3
THE CURE FOR AUTISM UPDATE 3
THE CURE FOR ARTHRITIS UPDATE 1
APFN THE CURE FOR PTSD
These articles were published for you and your parents.
Golden Corral: From the bottom of my heart - thank you. Just thank you.
Applications are available at CampCorral.com for next year 2 January 2013.
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We have cured cancer, autism, MS - so if you want to make a real difference in the world forget about politics and curing cancer - here is where you can make a big difference. Get involved - change the future one child at a time.
If you wish to donate to them - just type in Golden Corral on the computer and the address is there.
For you talk show hosts the Point of Contact is: Dolly Mercer at 919-781-9310
APFN - you funded Patch Adams Hospital.
Now you can get involved at the ground level in Camp Corral. They also need volunteers so if you are disabled why not become a volunteer for next year's camps?
Honorable Grace
Dr William B. Mount
Knight of Malta - Russian
Cpt (Ret) USA -- Combat Engineer and Infantry
253-686-6290