HPYC Gives Some of its August Heat to January

The River Church & Resource Center in Carneys Point acts as one of two Code Blue locations in Salem County.  Check them out at www.therivernj.com

Highland Park Youth Camp introduced a new type of service project during the summer of 2015.  Using a stash of donated fleece, campers spent an afternoon making no-sew fleece blankets for the needy.  This weekend, Highland Park Youth Camp donated 16 fleece blankets to the newly established Code Blue program for Salem County, NJ.

What started as a camper service project quickly became a camp-wide effort on the last day of camp.  It was inspiring to see so many people of all ages drawn to get involved to turn a pile of fleece into warm blankets for the winter.  Code Blue volunteers at the River Church in Carneys Point were very grateful for the donation towards their cause.  Many comments were made on how nice the blankets were and how great a blessing they would be for those in need.

The Code Blue program is actually an initiative to provide “warming shelters” for homeless people in extremely cold weather conditions.   They operate from 6pm-6am on nights where the temperature drops below 25 C, or 32 C w/ precipitation.  The program had previously started in Cumberland County, and has just now opened in Salem County for the first time on Wednesday, January 27.  It is important to note that these are not fully operational homeless shelters, and will not be serving food other than donated water and snacks.

We are happy to help contribute to this program, and we hope to continue providing blankets and other goods to Code Blue in the years to come.  We are always in need of more fleece for future donations!  Each blanket is made from 2 pieces of fleece that are 1 2/3 yd (or 60"x 60"), and can be patterned or plain fleece.  All blankets are given directly to Code Blue Shelters.  This project is coordinated by Andi Grimes.  If you would like to donate fleece, please email her at info@highlandparkcamp.org.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  - Matthew 25:34-40