Well now it has been a year and a half since I last blogged. I really am horrible about keeping up with this thing. I think about blogging a lot. It just does not happen. I actually have a reason to blog now. I imagine this will help with consistency, but we will just see what time will tell.
The purpose of this blog is now to follow the progress of the reestablishment of the PumpWorks Summer Program (PSP). I am not a very passionate person, however, after a short time being in the presence of this place back in 2008, captured my heart and my passion was found. Mid November of this past year (2012) the PumpWorks non-profit decided that under the model they were following they would not be able to make PSP, their main event, happen, thus they decided to close their doors at the end of the Calendar year. I was completely heartbroken. I was in shock. I knew I needed to take action, but I had no idea how. What made it even more difficult was that I had temporarily moved to California to help my sister out as she finished her undergrad degree. All the usual what ifs ran through my head, the biggest 'if I had only been there'.
Since the announcement of the closure of the non-profit, I have had time to brainstorm all sorts of possible ideas. I was blessed to receive a trip up to Portland for Christmas. Ever since the announcement I have just wanted to be with PumpWorks people. I feel more sure of what I am doing as well as have a better understanding of where things have been left off now that I have accomplished that. I had a chance to visit the former office of PumpWorks. There is not much there now. I also was able to talk with the two founders personally, which was one of my top priorities of my trip.
To help keep my self accountable as well as inform others about the happenings, I plan to blog every Friday on my progress. Here is the start of that:
Hello PSP compassionates,
At the end of last summer, I had heard finances were tight and that we might not be able to have camp this coming summer. I did not understand that this meant the extreme measure of shutting the doors of PumpWorks would be the result of that. While I was up in Portland I was reassured by one of the founders and decision makers of the PumpWorks Summer Program that they have hope that the Program will return again.
The doors were shut because of the lack of two main areas: Volunteers and Finances. I would like to write to you in an open and honest form. I feel that it is important to let you know as much as you need to know about the program, as well as the business. My hope in this is that you will be able to really understand the importance of what we do. We have found that it is difficult to afford an Executive Director as well as the cost of the program. At the same time, it is equally as hard of a task to find enough volunteers to preform even close to the same level to get the tasks done necessary to put together the program each year.
When I return to Portland during the summer of 2014, this will solve the volunteer problem. Until that time we have the ever present financial problem. In the year and a half plus till I return, I will be learning all I can about what it takes to be in this role, plus what is necessary to know in order to maintain a non-profit program and all that entails. In addition to that, I plan on collecting pledges of donations, as well as donations themselves. Another thing I learned during my visit up to Portland was that even though the business has closed we are able to still accept donations at least through the 2013 year. Hence, if you feel inclined, please continue to donate. I believe pay pal will be your best way to do this, but I imagine alternative methods are possible. If you would like to know more on this topic it self, please do not hesitate to contact me. My goal is to have at least $60,000 pledged by August 1, 2014.
I would like you to reflect on your own personal situation. I want you to think about your own connection to PumpWorks; It may be seeing your child go through the program, you have seen a family member attend the program, you have sent your child as an intern, you have interned, you know somebody who has volunteered in the program, you attend a church where your youth group has served, whatever has brought you to this blog today is your connection. Please reflect on what that connection means. Remember the effects PumpWorks Summer Program has had on all of those lives thus far, and most importantly to those children. I have been blessed to work with these kids the past 5 summers. It grieves me to think that I will miss out on their lives in these next couple of years, minus a miracle.
There will be kids who will graduate out of the program before I will be able to see them again. Who knows where they will go. Many of these children have rough home or social lives. Not all of them, and that is always a blessing to see the children helping each other out. We are called to be there for each of these children no matter what their story is. There definitely is a number of children in our program that do have difficult lives. They have gone through some things in their short amount of years that we will never experience, that we can never fully understand because nothing we will ever go through will compare to what they have lived. A good portion of our participants are in the foster care system or have been adopted.
I plan on being the program director for 2015, that means we will be going two summers with no program put on by us. The idea has been brought up to have a miniature version (week long camp) of the program this summer and/or next, but the details of this have not been discussed much further. My plan is to have a relaunch party Saturday, August 9, 2014 to announce plans for camp the following summer 2015. I hope to have former participants of all sorts in attendance: interns, volunteers, youth groups, students, and their families.
I am not very experienced in this role, but I have the passion for it. I know the program completely. I know the heart of what we are about. I feel this program is 100% vital to these children's lives. This is what saddens me the most about the lack of an affordable, Christian, Summer camp in the Portland area. I have talked with some of our PSP kids since or their families, and to hear their disappoint just breaks my heart a little more each time.
In this blog I would like to include what I am learning each week, progress of pledges, and share stories of the program. I want to give you a snap shot of what we do and who these kids are for those who have not had a chance to experience this place first hand. I hope you tune in each week. Thanks for reading.
Take Care,
Cassi
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