Carefree Sams Share their Christmas Spirit and Volunteers at Camp Boggy Creek

Wikipedia defines volunteering as “an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain.”

There is more to volunteering than that definition shows. Volunteering has positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or organization served. There are also the warmth in the hearts of the people volunteering and the many smiles of thanks for the people receiving the gift of the volunteer.

All of these are true for the members of a Florida Good Sam Chapter, the Carefree Sams. This chapter is based in Zephyrhills Florida. It is a like-minded group of camping enthusiasts that spend the entire year fund raising for Camp Boggy Creek. Their fund raising events include multiple yard sales, basket raffles and monetary donations of their members.

Every December, they camp as a group in Eustis Florida and help with “The Best Party on Earth!” They spend a few days before the event decorating Camp Boggy Creek. The day of the party, they help with activities, games and food for the campers and their families attending.

What is Camp Boggy Creek? It is a place of dreams, of joy, of possibilities. A camp where children with serious illnesses and their families can forget the word “no” for a little while and embrace the promise of “yes”. Founded by Paul Newman and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the camp has one simple premise in mind, that every child, no matter their illness, could experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand in hand with camp. With unobtrusive expert medical care, the camp provides seriously ill children with a fun-filled experience defined by compassion, laughter and acceptance. Since 1996, Camp Boggy Creek has made it possible for children who’ve been diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions to enjoy a camp experience in a safe, medically-sound environment. Camp Boggy Creek never charges campers to attend and never asks them to contribute anything other than a positive, playful attitude. Beyond boundless fun, Camp Boggy Creek provides fellowship. Children can spend time with others who are just like them and share their life-experiences, which serves as a reminder that they are not alone.