Canines occupying the Betty Gambrell Animal Shelter were tail-wagging happy when visited by Camp Chameleon attendees Wednesday, July 22. Although not all campers were able to attend the special visit, every camper is due for credit in terms of how many donations and proceeds were presented during last week’s early morning visit.
According to camp directors Jodi and Jim Jarvis and their children, Wallee Kersey, Sarah Beth Kersey, and Angel Jarvis, this is the 10th year of hosting Camp Chameleon. It is also the 10th year donations were given to the local shelter.
Yearly donations made to the shelter are important to Wallee, who, as an Emanuel County 4-H’er, says it corresponds with his vet science project through Emanuel County 4-H. Contributions made on behalf of the camp are also highly important to the entire Jarvis/Kersey Family in an effort to instill goodwill standards in camp attendees.
“A focal point of Camp Chameleon that we try to instill in our campers each year is for them to learn to serve through participation in service projects. The Betty Gambrell Animal Shelter has always been the recipient for projects hosted through Camp Chameleon. The children have always enjoyed visiting the no-kill shelter and it’s animals while learning the benefits of community service,” Jodi said.
Although this year differed a bit from previous years of Camp Chameleon, the Jarvis/Kersey Family reported the 10th annual summer camp event to be a great week overall. Instead of being hosted at the Jarvis/Kersey home as normal, Camp Chameleon 2020 was held at Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Department June 29 through July 2 and featured loads of fun activities for those in attendance while following guidelines set by the CDC and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
This year’s donation made to the local shelter consisted of 62 pounds of dry dog food and 35 canned dog food as well as needed supplies and toys for the shelter dogs. In addition, campers donated $350 in monetary proceeds, and an additional $150 was contributed by the Jarvis/Kersey Family, totaling a $500 donation to be split between the Betty Gambrell Animal Shelter and the Emanuel County Humane Society.
Words of appreciation were presented to Camp Chameleon directors and attendees by shelter manager Leta Fuentes and Swainsboro Police Chief Randy Ellison.
Live coverage of the event can be located and viewed by visiting The Forest-Blade’s Facebook page, Emanuel County Live.
