A local union helped make it possible to reopen Menomonee Falls Camp Pow Wow, which provides activities for people with disabilities
Area children and adults with disabilities are able to attend a camp in Menomonee Falls this summer, thanks to the help of local union members.
Camp Pow Wow, run by the Association for the Rights of Citizens with Handicaps, wouldn't have been able to reopen after its two-year hiatus due to the pandemic if it weren't for the efforts of the International Association of sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation.
"If they did not come, we would not have been able to do it," said Lora Stark, bookkeeper and administrative assistant for ARCh.
She said ARCh has a small staff of two full-time and one part-time staff members. She said that the nonprofit downsized during the pandemic, and fewer people were able to help out.
That's where more than 120 members of SMART came in, volunteering their time on June 9 to prepare for the camp, which opened June 20 at Menomonee Park in Menomonee Falls. The sessions runs through Aug. 5. The camp has provided outdoor recreational activities for adults and children with disabilities since 1959.
Programs include gardening, fishing, arts and crafts and music.
Because of COVID-19, the camp has not been upkept as well, and according to ARCh, the organization did not have the resources it needed to prepare for the camp opening.
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SMART members removed all contents of the lodge, cleaned and sanitized the entire lodge and every piece of equipment before reinstalling all furnishings.
Others workers took care of basic landscaping, repair and maintenance needs for the lodge picnic area, music pavilion, tent boxes and swing sets, fixed picnic tables and accessible wooden walkways, set up heavy-duty tents for campers, spread woodchips, sanitized toys and recreational materials, and more.
In addition, the association presented ARCh with a check for $33,000 as a result of its fundraising campaign.
Included in the funds raised was $5,000 from Milwaukee Tool Co., which is expanding into Menomonee Falls.
“SMART takes great pride in being able to assist ARCh Camp Pow Wow with their reopening,” added SMART Local 18 Business Manager/President Mike Mooney. “Camp Pow Wow has been a staple with serving the needs of the community for many years, and SMART is honored to be able to assist them.”
“This is what we’re all about: building better communities," said SMART Local 565 Business Manager & Financial Secretary-Treasurer Jesse Buell. "Building better wages and benefits, and raising local standards. We are proud to take part in this effort to support our community."
Kristen Lindahl, assistant director of operations at ARCh, said she is grateful for their help.
“This project shows how much good can be accomplished through a dynamic partnership of organized labor, county government and the nonprofit community. It takes this great ‘village’ to raise a camp,” she said.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Volunteers helped reopen Camp Pow in Menomonee Falls
