Kay Smith: Lions Club supports Camp for Kids with Disabilities

And no other camp will admit these children, Bonita Springs Lions Club's camp board member John Elliff said.

For more than 20 years, there was no cost to the campers.

Costs were all covered by Lions Club donations.

This had to change as contributions took a 50 percent nosedive unexpectedly, and efforts to correct the financial situation have not yet taken hold, he continued.

Campers are now charged $225 per week. This compares with the total operating cost per child of $620, he said.

Donations and fund-raising make a difference.

Is $620 too high of a figure for the camp in the central part of the state?

Elliff said it is a lot of money in the eyes of low-income families, which is the majority of the clientele.

However, he added that considering the excellent professional and enthusiatic direct care, it is inexpensive.

He said the camp has lost something more than $400,000 the past three years.

The camp lived on hope that donations would bounce back. But that didn't happen. Outside donations and gifts and fund-raising have increased from 17 percent to almost 33 percent of the camp's necessary funding.

The Lions Foundation bailed out the camp and now holds a $492,000 mortgage.

To try to make ends meet in the meantime, costs have been reduced in total and per client.

The camp now serves between 600 and 650 clients per summer -- an increase of about 100 per summer compared with 2000, the last year of substantial donations.

The camp site is about 56 acres plus 10 buildings and has a big gymnasium, boat dock, huge pool and other amenities. The dollar value of the complex is conservatively well over $2 million.

Lions Club donations are needed in excess of $350,000 until other outside gifts, grants, fees, and off-season income increase further.

Among the 33 clubs that participate from the district, Elliff said Fort Myers Beach is the top contributor at $14,000. Bonita Springs is next at $8,000.

He says 14 other clubs in the district give between $1,000 and $2,000.

Lion Elliff recommends an additional donation be made this year of $2,000 for a total of $10,000 from Bonita Springs, and the same total amount be made for 2004.