More than a dozen kids in Big Creek People in Action’s (BCPIA) summer camp program, supported by Americans Helping Americans®, were “super-excited” to say the least about their “flight” to Hawaii on the morning of Wednesday, June 10.
Many, if not all, of the elementary school-aged children had not traveled far, if at all, from their rural McDowell County, West Virginia, home, much less ever had the opportunity to ride in an airplane before.
Of course, this trip was virtual, but as BCPIA executive director Dyanne Spriggs has put it, “Our summer camps give children the opportunity to learn how to work, play, relate, get along, empathize, and connect with others.
“Our camps provide the opportunity to gather for the summer for organized activities to prevent ‘Brain Drain’ and build their independence, resiliency, and self-esteem in a safe, supervised, and supportive environment.”
And this summer, among those activities was the children receiving a ticket to Hawaii, complete with their own name printed on it, along with their seat assignment.
With their passport in hand, the children waited patiently in line for their boarding pass where they were greeted by flight attendants and pilots (volunteers from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC) who took them to their seats.
Once everyone was seated, the pilots prepared for takeoff, where they watched footage of a plane taking off through the windows, along with the roar of the engines.
Then once the plane reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants served each of them a snack and drink of their choice while the pilots kept their passengers entertained with some airplane-related jokes.
It wasn’t long before they landed in Hawaii and were each presented with a beautiful lei, which symbolizes the spirit of aloha – representing love, respect, honor, and friendship.
And it certainly wouldn’t be a trip to Hawaii without sampling traditional Hawaiian foods, including fresh coconut and huli-huli chicken, a popular Hawaiian grilled chicken dish known for its sweet and savory flavor that is a staple of Hawaiian cuisine.
While the children didn’t have the opportunity to actually travel to Hawaii, it’s certain to be a memory they will never forget.
And as for Dyanne, who says, without the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, “we would not be able to serve these kids through the summer camp without financial support for the meals, activities, transportation, and field trips.
“The only funding we receive for our summer camp comes from Americans Helping Americans®, for which we are truly grateful.”
