PRESS RELEASE: July 8, 2008 For Immediate Release

MEDIA CONTACT:
Beverly Crowl, Public Relations Specialist
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The caring and compassionate hearts of Delaware Hospice staff and volunteers joined the hurting hearts of children and teenagers who had recently lost loved ones at Bridgeville United Methodist Church from June 24-27, and the magic of Camp New Hope was underway.

Camp New Hope is intended to provide an opportunity for children who have lost someone in the family to come together with other children who have had a similar loss. At Camp New Hope, each one is given an opportunity to tell their story. Very often, adults are concerned about letting them talk because we don’t want them to be sad, or perhaps they’re afraid that they’ll upset us.

A day at Camp New Hopeis carefully structured to blend traditional, fun camp activities with special bereavement projects, such as writing poetry, creating a memory box or an ornament to hang on the tree for the memorial service, or painting a picture frame to honor a loved one.

New Hope Coordinator for Kent and Sussex Counties, Lezley Sexton said, “Camp New Hope accomplishes so much for these children in four short days. It helps bereaved children come together to normalize their grief process, to help them realize that they’re not alone, to focus on positive happy memories of the loved one, and to focus on having fun, sharing their stories, and making it more a piece of who they are.”

Delaware Hospice offers Camp New Hope as a community outreach program at no charge to participants, thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors throughout the state.

This year the Delaware Racquetball Association and sponsor, Cardile Bros. Mushroom Co., raised $4,000 for the New Hope Program as beneficiary of its annual state doubles tournament. Camp New Hope in Bridgeville benefited from the sponsorship of Bridgeville United Methodist Church, Lowes, Open Heart Studio, and Andrea’s Yoga Studio.

Twenty volunteers committed to attending Camp for the week to support its campers and activities. Some give up their vacation; others go to work before camp and others go to work after camp.

Volunteer Kay Meade said, “My children both attended Camp New Hope in 1994, and both my son, Andrew, and my daughter, Amanda, have been volunteers for many years. It has meant so much to us and it has become a part of our lives.”

Cindy Anderson, a retired gym teacher, has been a Camp New Hope volunteer since 2005 and has taken responsibility for the outdoor sports activities.

Community support of Camp New Hope enables Delaware Hospice to extend its program beyond Delaware Hospice families. Several children and teens who participated this year had lost family members who were not in a Delaware Hospice program.

Delaware Hospice nurse Marie Brady perhaps summed up the emotions of many when she said, “I restored my spirit here this week.”

About Delaware Hospice
Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided exceptional care and support to 30,000 patients and their families. Its mission is to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible. Delaware Hospice is the largest and only licensed, nonprofit, community-based hospice serving New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and southern Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. For more information about Delaware Hospice’s programs and services, upcoming events, or employment opportunities, call 800-838-9800 or visit our website,

www.delawarehospice.org.

Camp New Hope Coordinator Lezley Sexton gets a hug from Milford camper, Rajene Bowe.

Harley Morrow, Zach Breeding, Delaware Hospice Nurse Marie Brady, and Raegan Jackson take a break from volleyball.