Music on the Porch with Shot Gun Bill Anala and Kevin Liebkemann will be featured at a celebration at Camp Happiness Wednesday, July 10, honoring the 95th anniversary of the non-profit agency geared to offer services for the blind and visually impaired.
The public is invited to bring their lawn chairs and join the celebration featuring Camp Happiness members and enjoy ice cream and beverages from Middletown Meltdown ice cream truck. Face painting, blindfolded cornhole and a historic picture display will also be featured at the event.
Those who volunteer at Camp Happiness or have a family member who ever attended the waterfront facility are urged to attend and share their stories of how this popular summer resort impacted their families and created happy memories.
Camp Happiness has been offering free services to blind and visually impaired individuals in the community for the last 95 years. Board President Pilar Curvy emphasized the significance of the work as ” the only organization providing these services not just for the blind and visually impaired, but to their families and caregivers as well.” The organization does not receive any financial support from the state and relies entirely on the generosity of the community.
Four blind men established the NJ Blind Men’s Club in 1910. With the backing of two philanthropists from West Orange in 1929, these individuals established a groundbreaking initiative that enabled visually impaired men to acquire essential skills for independent living.
A residence was constructed on the banks of Sandy Hook Bay in Leonardo, providing the occupants with the opportunity to also engage in fishing, swimming, boating and communal gatherings. The men designate the program as “Camp Happiness” as it provided them with a brief respite from their blindness. Impressed by their work, Helen Keller sent an autographed picture and personally visited the camp in 1929 to present a letter commending their excellent work.
Today at Camp Happiness, blind and visually impaired members receive understanding and caring support to assist them in navigating their vision loss. They also benefit from free services, creative programming, educational forums, health and wellness, celebratory events, trips to concerts, restaurants, plays, and other places of interest. Members are also presented with volunteer opportunities to give back to their community.
Camp Happiness is a program of New Jersey Blind Citizens Association, Inc. and is located at 18 Burlington Avenue in Leonardo. It also serves the community on a statewide level with free advocacy, resources, and referral services.
For more information or donate, call 732-291-0878 or visit the website at www.njbca.org.
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