BY JULIE IRWIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The churches of Evanston are uniting to send their community's youth to day camp this summer.
The first-ever Evanston YMCA Day Camp begins Monday and runs through Aug. 21 at Parham Elementary School in Evanston. The sponsoring churches decided to form the camp as a way to give neighborhood children something to do.
"We'd been thinking about the high costs of day camps in the summer," said the Rev. Peterson Mingo, pastor of Christ Temple Baptist Church in Evanston. Despite the availability of some camps, "There are a lot of little kids still on the streets in the summer."
After a spring of organizing, the sponsors -- including Christ Temple, Bible Way Church of God, Calvary United Methodist, Fifth Christian, Hope Temple, Lee Chapel, Kenwood Baptist, St. Andrew's Episcopal, St. Mark Catholic, St. Stephen's A.M.E., the Evanston Community Council and the Melrose YMCA -- are set to sponsor up to 75 children ages 5 to 12 who live or attend school or church in Evanston. Forty-two campers are registered so far.
Each week will include a field trip to an amusement park, museum or special attraction and a visit from a Christian ministry or city leader.
"It shows that churches can work together to help the community instead of waiting for some type of government program," the Rev. Wendell Gibbs of St. Andrew's Episcopal said.
The churches have raised more than $30,000 so far and are charging $15 per child per week, with scholarships available. The goal is to raise more than $40,000 to cover scholarships and keep the weekly cost low. For more information, call 961-3510.
