By Kitty King:
CIS has had a partnership with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and local Tim Horton restaurants since the year 2000. Over these years, we have been able to send hundreds of kids to their camps in Kentucky and Canada.
Today, because of the efforts of our CIS staff, 46 children left on a bus to go to Campbellsville, Kentucky or St. George Ontario for a 10-day, all expenses paid trip of a lifetime.
I was enlisted at the last minute to drive a camper and his mother and father to the Tim Horton restaurant that was designated as a bus pick-up location for him. The young boy was very excited about going, but I think his Dad might have been more so!
Dad had purchased 2 disposable cameras for his son to take, but proceeded to take pictures of the bus, the store, the other campers and themselves. When I asked if I could take a picture of the 3 of them, Dad said yes and commented “one big happy family!” and put his arms around the other two. Dad and Mom are not together (son lives with Dad), but I am sure this comment made the little boy smile.
The drop-off site was about 20 miles away from their home and on the way back, I took the “scenic” route along the Scioto River. Dad was sitting in the front passenger seat snapping pictures of the river, the trees, the clouds and the Columbus skyline. He laughed and said my son is on an adventure and so am I! He – and his son -- had never been that far away from the West Side neighborhood where they live.
Many thanks to the Sarah Swank, the CIS School Resource Coordinator from Eakin ES, who selected this young boy to go to camp and to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and store owners who maintain and support the camps.
I am sure this trip will be a once in a lifetime trip for this little boy!
