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Jan 31, 2013 | Luke Blount

Church Sells Super Bowl Chili Dinners for Camp Good News

chili dinner port nechesHoly Trinity Episcopal Church, Port Neches, is selling chili dinners on the Saturday before the Super Bowl, February 2, from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. to support Camp Good News. Camp Good News is a week-long summer camp, held at Camp Allen for children who have one or more parents in prison. The dinner, take-out or eat-in, includes chili, rice, beans, coleslaw and a drink. The tickets are $6:00 for adults and $3.00 for children.

 

This year marks the 65th year that the church will hold a chili dinner, which has featured the same recipe for more than 50 years. Last year, despite bad weather, Holy Trinity raised $3500, which paid for eight children to attend Camp Good News. This is the third year the proceeds will benefit Camp Good News.

 

"Our parish has really just adopted Camp Good News," said the Rev. Cliff Rucker, rector. "Jefferson County, where we are, is the home to a few prisons and it just seemed natural to us to take on that cause. The children are often a forgotten area in that ministry."


The issue of crime and incarceration is often in the news. The plight of prisoner families, especially the children, is often forgotten. The children of prisoners live with the stigma of their parent's actions and often feel as if they are serving a sentence themselves. To address this situation, the Restorative Justice division of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas sponsors a special summer camp session at Camp Allen called Camp Good News for children who have one or more parents incarcerated in prison.

 

While the actual cost of the camp is $450 per child, ALL the funding comes from gifts by individuals and parishes. The child pays nothing. Because of this generosity, there are always more children wanting to attend Camp Good News than funds available.

Camp Good News provides a safe environment for children. They swim, play games, ride horses, and meet new friends. They are given time to talk about their lives. They are constantly given the message from the staff that they are ok, that they did not do anything wrong, and that they have value. Camp Good News is described as a week when kids know God loves them.

Join Holy Trinity at 2425 Nall Street (FM 365) on February 2, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and support efforts to send children to Camp Good News. For more information about Camp Good News or how to support Camp Good News, contact the Rev. Cliff Rucker, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Port Neches, Texas at 409.722.6238.