Dear Santa:
I really miss seeing "my kids" from Wednesday night youth programs at The Salvation Army.
We always need to take a break from program for several weeks this time of year to focus on the Christmas work and activities that need to be done, but January is coming and I look forward to seeing them again regularly in just a few short weeks.
Let me tell you about one of my favorite programs.
It's called Sunbeams and Girl Guards.
It's kind of like Brownies or Girl Scouts, but we use Salvation Army curriculum. We meet at 6 p.m. for dinner and then each week the girls do work during the evening to earn different emblems (badges) for their sashes.
Some of the girls earned three of their emblems at "Sunbeam-Girl Guard Camp" this summer in August. In the fall they earned membership, personal health and bible emblems.
In January they will be officially enrolled and receive their sashes with their first emblems - so exciting!
We have 14 girls now in the program, but I hope more will join us in January.
We are very fortunate to have several caring adult woman who help out by being a mentor in the program.
Sunbeams and Girl Guards have a very special activity that they are super excited about in January.
The girls and leaders will be going on a special Saturday outing to The Salvation Army "Kroc" Center in Philadelphia where the girls will meet others from around the Pendel (Eastern Pennsylvania-Delaware) division.
They will earn another emblem for their sash, have lunch and go swimming in the HUGE indoor pool there.
Of course there will be a McDonald's stop on the way home. I know it will be an afternoon they will never forget.
We also have a sleepover scheduled for the spring, pen-pals we are getting connected with in Berwick and many other fun activities.
I hope a bunch of the girls also will decide to go to our overnight camp this summer as well at Camp Ladore.
What I pray for each girl in the program Santa is that they will have memories that will last them a lifetime.
Sweet dreams Santa!
Oh yeah, I forgot, you're not sleeping too much these days!
Your friend,
Captain Debbie
Please help by giving generously to the Sun-Gazette and the Salvation Army Santa Fund.
You can help make this a brighter holiday season for local families by making a contribution in person to any branch of M&T Bank or by mail to M&T Bank at 405 River Ave.; at the Salvation Army, 457 Market St.; or the Sun-Gazette office, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701.
The Santa Fund is a fundraiser organized by the Sun-Gazette and the Salvation Army to help local families in need.
