A nonprofit in Orange County that helps children with incarcerated parents is facing a setback after organizers say thieves stole a trailer packed with supplies used for their annual camp — just weeks before it begins.
For many kids, summer camp is about making memories. But for the children who attend Camp Agape, it’s much more: the nonprofit gives the children whose lives have been impacted by a parent’s incarceration a place to feel supported.
Organizers say someone stole much of what makes the camp special.
“It was, to say the least, like someone punched you in the gut,” Camp Agape California founder Jon Vallejo said, later adding, “There’s stuff in there that we will never be able to replace, as far as the nostalgia part of it.”
Vallejo said the stolen trailer was filled with camp supplies, games and equipment that volunteers use to create a safe and welcoming experience for the kids.
The camp is held every Labor Day weekend and serves more than 200 children from across the state. It offers kids affected by a parent’s incarceration a weekend where they are surrounded by positive mentors, make new friends, enjoy outdoor activities and have the chance to be kids — all at no cost to their families.
Alberto Canul, a father who was previously incarcerated, says the camp has made a lasting difference in his children’s lives, giving them the confidence to see themselves as more than their family’s circumstances.
“They defeated the odds and decided that’s not going to be their identity, that they are not my mistake,” he told NBC Los Angeles. “And I see them growing every day.”
Despite the setback, organizers say they’re determined to make the camp happen. They’re asking for the community’s help in locating the stolen trailer and replacing the supplies.
“It’s a lot for a nonprofit to try and recoup,” Vallejo said.
