Donations Needed for Mar Vista Family Center's Summer Camp

Summer camp at the Mar Vista Family Center means much more than just fun and games.

The camp is a safe haven for children in the area and a life saver for many parents, according to the center's Senior Development Director Miriam Galicia.

"They discover new abilities," Galicia said. "They build self-esteem. They develop social skills."

The center has a goal of sending 125 children to this year's six-week day camp. The program, which is designed for children ages eight to 12, consists primarily of children who live in Mar Vista Gardens, according to Galicia.

"All of our participants are children that come from high-need neighborhoods," Galicia said. "They're impacted by violence, crime, poverty and, most importantly, lack of parental supervision because most of the parents are out working two jobs to try to make ends meet."  

As a result, the center is looking for donations in order to be able to run the summer camp which runs from July 1 through Aug. 8. The children receive a free lunch as part of the program as well as participate in a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, as well as go on field trips to local museums, according to Galicia.

For more information, or to find out how to give a donation, call (310) 390-9607, or visit the Mar Vista Family Center online.

Venice-Mar Vista Patch: follow us on Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates