Good Morning.  Thank you to our friends in Phoenix for allowing me to explain the extraordinary needs of Camp de Benneville Pines at this time.  I‘m  Janet James,  the  Executive Director  of  de Benneville  Pines—the district-wide camp started by Rev. Ray Manker almost 60 years ago.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the camp has been without income since March. Monthly fixed costs and key employee wages run approximately $50,000 per month. We have exhausted our reserve fund of $165,000 and received a PPP loan of $78,000.  Additionally, we took out a loan with the SBA for $150,000. We have set a goal to raise $600,000 to keep the camp afloat for 12 months or more during the pandemic, and we are over half way to that goal.  

But then, the El Dorado fire raged upon the mountain top.  We really dodged a bullet thanks to the valiant efforts of the San Bernardino County Fire crew.  The fire did encroach into the camp boundaries on three sides, but no buildings were damaged. Many of the trees near the cabins will survive, but the under growth and the duff on the forest floor was consumed, as well as the wilderness forest  uphill of the camp—it is gone!  Unfortunately, this is a disaster waiting to happen when winter rains arrive.  There is the possibility of mud and debris flows right into camp and our cabins.

When we put out the call for volunteers to come up to Camp to fill sand bags, the response was positively supportive.  Over the month of October, 50 people participated filling sand bags. To date, volunteers have filled and placed 9,000 sandbags throughout camp.  And we continue to fill sandbags.

What started out as the  “Covid Emergency Fund” is now the  “Emergency Fund”.  Camp will be closed until it is safe to return--when we know that the mountain above the camp has stabilized. Our efforts to keep mud and ash out of the cabins will include hiring an erosion control company to set straw wattles and straw bales to slow down debris flow off the mountain and into camp.  The good news is that a concerned donor has put up $100K in matching funds for donations received through the end of the year.  So now is an excellent time to make your contributions to the Emergency Fund!  It will be doubled!  Of extreme help to Camp is a commitment to monthly giving for 12 months, at any level.  This will enable Camp to   have a base of consistent cash flow until we get back to the business of holding camps once again.  Please consider pledging to camp for 12 months.  Details are available on our website, uucamp.org.  

Thank you for inviting me to share with you the needs of Camp, and thank you for including Camp de Benneville Pines in your Generosity Sunday offering.  Camp has served 5 generations of UU’s, and for many, it is our collective heart.  With your support, Camp will continue to serve the people of this district for many more generations to come.