Community Spotlight: Mt. Calvary Center offers free summer camp where kids give back to the community

WALLACE, N.C. (WECT) - The summer enrichment program at Mt. Calvary Center for Leadership Development in Wallace is giving 60 kids from six counties in Southeastern North Carolina an opportunity to give back while having fun.

Ryan Godfrey is a summer youth coach with Mt. Calvary and says for many of these kids, it’s their first time attending a summer camp, made even better because it’s free.

“I am thrilled at the joy that our children have by just being on this farm. The opportunities that have been presented to them just for the summer are magnificent,” Godfrey said.

As part of the camp, the kids help harvest vegetables at Tate Farm by the Pond and deliver them to those in need, including the elderly and the homeless.

Anthony Hernandez is the director of youth services and administration at Mt. Calvary and says it teaches the kids the value of hard work.

“The fact that they’re out here picking vegetables and giving it to the homeless people to the elderly people, I feel like it’s a good way of giving back,” Hernandez said.

Many camp participants say their favorite part is interacting with the animals. For nine-year-old Camuron Sanders, he has a new interest in the science behind farming.

“My favorite part is when we come here, and we learn about how the plants grow and the nutrients and how they’re organic,” Sanders said.

Godfrey says he hopes the kids not only learn about farming, but about how to build friendships and how to serve others.

“What an awesome privilege it is for young persons to have something to do engaging and collaboratively during the summer,” Godfrey said.

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