The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY – The Leadership Sullivan Class of 2010 is looking for assistance with an important community project they are working on.

Leadership Sullivan is a leadership program administered by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Each year the class is asked to do a project that benefits Sullivan County. This year’s class has opted to use some synergy, and help two very worthy youth programs.

The Recovery Center (a local alcohol/drug rehabilitation facility), has a special summer program that often includes the children of drug and alcohol dependent parents. The "Safe Summer Camp" program chooses the neediest of these children, and sends them to a summer camp where they can shed the stress of their complicated lives, and join with the other kids as carefree children for one week. They range in ages from 7 to 13, and many are sent off to camp without any necessities from home. These children do not drag overstuffed duffle bags filled with all the "stuff" that appeals to them. Many don’t even have sneakers to participate in the normal camp activities like hiking, or basketball. These children carry little, if any, basic items for a one week stay.

The "D.R.E.A.M. Tank" is a group of Sullivan County youths who have found themselves in need of direction. Monticello’s Judge Josephine Finn, facilitates this program, and takes these children and young adults, and re-directs them through community involvement. Some of these children come from broken homes, and/or alcohol or drug addicted parents. They need discipline and direction to lead responsible lives. Some youths in our community are drawn into the local gang culture in search of a sense of family. Others just go along for the ride without thinking things through. This program keeps them from a path that often leads them to jail, and instead puts them in the center of the community that very often shuns them. They are inspired, and they inspire. The program is a success, and many, many young people are helped to achieve better, more productive lives.

The Leadership Sullivan Class of 2010 has envisioned a project that will benefit both groups of children. They would like to supply the "Safe Summer Camp" program with backpacks filled with the very items that we take for granted, i.e.., band-aids, bug spray, combs, deodorant, (small) flashlights w/batteries, hair brushes, hand sanitizers, lip balm, shampoo, (bar) soap, socks, sun block, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wash cloths, etc.

The Leadership Sullivan Class of 2010 also will mentor the older "D.R.E.A.M. Tank" kids, and allow them to capture their project through video, photos, and writings. They will express themselves through the use of their current simple media, and at the end of the project will receive new video equipment so that they may continue documenting their progress. They will also help to create donation boxes* to be placed throughout our local banks and businesses for toiletry items that can be used for the camp bags.

The Leadership Sullivan Class of 2010 will conduct a raffle in order to acquire the necessary funds to fulfill their goal, and ask for monetary donations in order to buy any outstanding necessities, and the media equipment. The "D.R.E.A.M Tank" will oversee next year’s "Safe Summer Camp" bag distribution.

The Leadership Sullivan Class of 2010 knows that times are tough, but every little bit helps, and small, travel sized products will benefit these children. When you have nothing – anything is appreciated. The children will not forget the Summer of 2010.

*Visit one of their convenient donation box locations with your thoughtful contribution:

-ARC, Broadway, Monticello, NY

-Catskill Hudson Bank, 6 Railroad Plaza, South Fallsburg, NY

-Crystal Run HealthCare, Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill, NY

-Dykstra Associates, 11 Lawrence Rd., Newton, NJ

-Jeff Bank, All 11 Sullivan County Branches

-New Hope Community, 5 New Community Dr., Rte 52, Loch Sheldrake, NY

-Provident Bank, Cardinal Square, 253 Rock Hill Dr., Rock Hill, NY

-Provident Bank, 5193 Main St., South Fallsburg, NY

-Recovery Center, 396 Broadway, Monticello, NY

-Rock Hill Pharmacy, Cardinal Square, 253 Rock Hill Dr., Rock Hill, NY

-Sullivan County DPW, Government Ctr, 100 North St., Monticello, NY

-Toshiba Business Solutions, 230 North Plank Rd., Newburgh, NY

For more information, please contact Leadership Sullivan by e-mail at sullivanleadership2010@yahoo.com, or call The SC Chamber of Commerce 845-791-4200.