Camp Christmas brings holiday joy to foster children displaced by Helene

A team of local organizers is coming together to provide much-needed holiday cheer for families and children displaced by Hurricane Helene. 

Camp Christmas, a collaborative event spearheaded by event planner Whitney Gorbett and supported by Kingston Springs community leaders, is set to offer a respite for 80 people from Hendersonville, North Carolina. 

The displaced families – including 32 foster children from a group home that was devastated by flooding – will gather at Bethany Hills Camp in Kingston Springs for a weekend of holiday festivities, support, and healing. “We’re capping Camp Christmas at 80 people, and right now we have 32 foster children,” explained Amy Davis-Bruce, director of hospitality for the event. Camp Christmas will host foster children aged 2 to 10-years-old and six families. 

The weekend will feature a variety of activities aimed at providing emotional and physical support, including family photos with Santa – donated by Mandy Johnson Photography – Christmas tree decorating, arts and crafts, and a square dance led by professional caller Marcia Campbell.

In addition to holiday festivities, Camp Christmas in Kingston Springs will provide therapeutic services to address the emotional toll the families have endured. “We’ll have therapists on-site, including massage therapists, yoga instructors, and talk therapists, to help with the trauma these families have experienced,” Davis-Bruce said.

Local chefs are volunteering their time to provide meals throughout the weekend, with ARK Director Mike Turpin serving as the head of food and beverage.

Community members have already stepped up to volunteer, including spending an entire weekend cleaning the campus – which is only utilized in the summer time. They have also donated money and decorations for the event, with country music singer Brett Eldredge giving 16 Christmas trees from his stage set. 

Camp Christmas is encouraging the community to sponsor a cabin for $800. This will provide essentials for every child and family like bedding and toiletries that they will get to take with them back to Western North Carolina. The Camp Christmas team is also collecting Amazon wishlist items for Christmas decorations.

Families at Camp Christmas will have the opportunity to participate in community-building activities. Local businesses, such as TLH Plumbing and Hens on the Hunt, are contributing by setting up a hot cocoa bar and dressing as elves for the weekend. “It’s all about coming together as a community to support these families,” Davis-Bruce said.

The event will be a chance for those affected by the floods to connect, find comfort, and enjoy a break from their hardships. “It’s important to remind these families that they’re not alone,” Davis-Bruce said tearily. “We want to give them a glimmer of happiness and a little relief from the devastation they’ve experienced.”

While volunteer opportunities for Camp Christmas are full, organizers are seeking additional donations from the community. Monetary contributions and items from the Amazon wishlist will be used to support the camp’s efforts, ensuring that the displaced families have everything they need for the weekend and beyond.