Help Us Send 160 Children to Summer Camp
*names have been changed to protect the identities of families
May 15, 2025
As summer approaches, we’re filled with anticipation for our annual Summer Camp, which will be held at our Village of Hope facility in Calacea. The camp will run for five weeks where laughter, healing, and new childhood memories will be made for the 160 children we serve. Each week, 40 children from rural villages across Romania will join us, many of them for the very first time.
One of those children is Isabel. She’s never been away from her parents or siblings before, and though she’s nervous, she’s excited to experience something new—games, friends, and a sense of freedom she’s never known. For so many like Isabel, summer camp is a safe, joy-filled place where children can just be children.
Behind all of this stands Mariana and Francisc, the heart of The Village of Hope Romania. Mariana, our longtime Executive Director, and Francisc, her son and co-director, are the lifeblood of this work. They not only organize every detail of the camp—from selecting activities to overseeing health and safety—but they also personally connect with each child. Their dedication ensures that every child is known, loved, and supported — not just at camp, but throughout the year.
To make camp possible, we need your help covering these essential costs:
• Catering for five weeks (required by regulation)
• Transportation from remote villages to our Călacea facility
• Games, crafts, excursions, and the materials that make this experience special
It costs just $40 a day, or $280 for one child to attend a full week of camp.
• $40 sponsors one for child a day.
• $80 sponsors two children for a day.
• $280 sponsors one child for a week.
• $560 sponsors two children for a week.
• Any amount helps us reach our goal of welcoming 160 children to camp
While we prepare for camp, we’re also thrilled that Debby Gass, our CEO, will soon be traveling to Romania to reunite with Mariana and Francisc. Debby’s last visit was with her late husband, Bob Gass, and this upcoming trip—her first since the pandemic—will be deeply meaningful. We can’t wait to share more about what Francisc and Mariana have planned during her visit.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us. Your generosity gives children more than a summer camp experience—it gives them joy, healing, and hope.
With deep appreciation,
Laura Squibbs
Director of Donor Relations and Development
