Humanitarian Activities

Throughout our organization, both on a National level and on a State/Provincial/Local level, our members participate in many humanitarian activities. This allows us to serve our communities and give something to others that may be less fortunate than we are. Below are some of the activities in which we participate. Many of our local chapters, also, adopt families at Christmas time or deliver food baskets to needy families.

National Activities

Aluminum Tab Collection

FCRV members have been collecting aluminum can pop tabs at the National Campvention for many years. There are awards given for the state/province/chapter contributing the most (pound wise) tabs. The tabs are taken to a local recycling center where they are turned in for cash. The cash is then donated to the local/area Ronald McDonald House to provide free nights' stays for those families that can't afford to pay.

Food Banks/Pantries

Wherever our National Campvention or Retiree Rally is held, a local Food Bank/Pantry benefits from the generosity of our members. Food and money is collected throughout the time the event is held. At the end of the event the food and money is taken to a local food bank/pantry for distribution to local needy families.

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State/Provincial Activities

Colorado KPC Kids Place Project

KPC are the intials of an infant who died from being violently shaken by his grandmother and because of this, KPC Kids Place was started. It is a respite care center for children under age six. It was started about three years ago in Colorado Springs. It began through a church which some Colorado members belonged to and they asked if Colorado FCRV would be interested in helping this care center get off the ground and get started, as it totally relies on donations and grant money. Nearly every chapter in Colorado donated monies to get the landscaping underway which had to be completed before they could have their grand opening or accept their first child. Colorado collected well over $1500.00 and bought trees, shrubbery, and landscaping materials and then a large group went there and the guys planted the trees and shrubbery and several of the ladies actually went into the center which was nearly completed and washed windows, and put up window coverings and did general housecleaning to get ready for the center to open. Many of our FCRV families donated money and bought engraved plaques for the display on the office wall. Van Briggle Pottery of Colorado Springs made the engraved plaques and donated them. Several of the Colorado chapters go shopping for children's clothing on an ongoing basis to donate while others actually donate a lot of their time to help out in the center. Many chapters make quilts for the children, as well as get donations from large chain stores to supply the center with hygiene products.

Connecticut Make A Wish Project

In 2006 Connecticut Family Campers & RVers really outdid themselves at the Annual Fundraiser for the "Make A Wish Foundation" of Connecticut which through the efforts of the Sponsor, Hemlock Hill RV, and many individual camping clubs, raised a total of $27,000.

This was FCRV's forth (4) Year participating in this worthwhile event. The first (1) Year We raised $500.00; the second (2) Year $1,700.00; the third (3) Year $5,000.00. and this Year We raised a spectacular total of $7,340.00 which alone was enough to sponsor a child. The name of the child that FCRV sponsored is "Madisen" She resides in Woodbridge Ct. and through the special efforts of our Camping Club, Madisen will get her Wish to spend a week in "Give Kids the World Village" in Disney World, Florida. Besides visiting her beloved Disney Characters, Madisen and her family will receive spending money, tickets to nearby theme parks, a rental car, and other gifts which will be included in this delightful experience.

To see the latest news article on their Make A Wish Project click here

Indiana Projects

Indiana has been collecting Tabs for the past few years and usually average about 300 lbs. or 300,000 tabs per year going to the Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis.

In 2007 a new project "Help Stock Riley Children's Hospital Toy Room" was initiated by Indiana and was continued in 2008. They collected toys, etc. at each State Campout and delivered 195 items to the Children's Hospital in Indianapolis in October. Riley Hospital was very surprised and pleased with the donations. The project will be continued next year.

Iowa Projects

Several chapters make quilts for the Ronald McDonald House (one club made 119 quilts for the Iowa City Ronald McDonald House). They collect and donate laundry items, food items and paper goods to the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. All of these items are donated by different clubs in Iowa both at the state camp outs and by clubs individually

The State Association has volunteers come in to clean up the Living History Farms just before the opening of the season in May.

Ohio ABC Quilt Project

ABC quilts made by the Ohio members are donated to Care House in Dayton. The Care House located across from the Dayton Children's Hospital accommodates children of abuse by providing all services they need in one place.

Oklahoma Tab Collection

Oklahoma collects aluminum can pop tabs and then sends the money from them to a doctor in Oklahoma City. This helps a child receive a chemo or dialysis treatment.

Quebec

The members of the Quebec chapters took on a project to help out the young street people of the Montreal area. This is an organization known as Dan La Rue which has been going on for some years and is run by Father John Emme. In the winter time he has a large motor home which he or some of his volunteers go around a certain area where many homeless young people hang around and hand out hot dogs and hot drinks each night . They also have a place where the kids can go and take showers and if available get clean clothes. They have volunteers which spend time helping them to take some schooling so they will be able to get into the work force.

The Quebec chapter members gathered together hygiene products (tooth paste , tooth brushes , soap , shampoo, shower gels(razors for the boys & shaving cream) etc. enough to fill 85 shoe bags made by a couple of lady members . They were also able to give a large box of larger size products to the organization which was greatly appreciated by the volunteers who run Dan La Rue . An appreciation certificate was received from Dan La Rue to the Quebec FCRV members. During the winter months it is expected that Father John or one of his volunteers will attend a chapter meeting to fill our members in on more of what the organization does for the young street people.

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Local Chapter Activities

COLORADO

The RV Rascals of Colorado for the past several years have donated a portion of their 50/50 pot to the Larimer County Dept. of Human Services for the Drug Endangered Children's Task Force for comfort kits for children removed from their homes due to methamphetamine labs. These kits provide the children that are removed from their homes and placed into foster care with new clothes, toiletries and a new toy such as a teddy bear. They have donated $200 to this ongoing project.

The members of this chapter used money left from their Christmas Family fund to participate in the Relay for Life this year which is to raise money for cancer research.

For the last two years this chapter has collected canned goods for Foothills Gateway Rehab Center. Foothills Gateway, Inc is a facility to coordinate community effort dedicated to challenging and supporting Larimer County citizens with development disabilities to achieve their maximum potential and independence.

They have also donated Christmas gifts for Genny's Hope, a non-profit agency that works with foster parents to reach out to the children in foster care to help build their self-esteem and dreams for tomorrow.

IOWA

One club takes the boys from Children's Square USA camping two or three times a year.

NEBRASKA

The Explorer Chapter does several Humanitarian activities each year. They have put on a Christmas Dinner for the families and children of Ronald McDonald House in Omaha for many years. A couple in the chapter dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Santa and talk with the children and the chapter purchases a small gift for each child. They also visit the children that are in the Medical Center.

The members of this chapter have sponsored children to Special Olympics for the past twenty years. The funds are used for the children going to state games.

The chapter members adopt children each year from the Angel Tree (children of parents that are incarcerated) and purchase gifts for the children. They also adopt each Christmas a Salvation Army family of four. They purchase gifts for the children and also give the family gift certificates for food.

Each year, the members bring canned foods to their November meeting to donate to the Food Pantry along with a check for $100 from the chapter.

These are only a few Humanitarian efforts that this chapter does throughout the year.

TENNESSEE

A chapter helps keep a food bank stocked with food to help the needy and also has a special job of helping handicap people.

TEXAS

The Fiesta Campers of San Antonio build bird houses to put in the parks. They recycle items making them into usable crafts. Last year they collected 25 pounds of aluminum tabs, 500 pounds of aluminum cans, recycled 2000 pounds of newspapers, 580 pounds of cardboard, 1000 pounds of glass and plastic and saved canceled stamps and mailed them to "Children with a Disability". The chapter also did some group camping at Inks Lake State Park. While there they did clean up work of the park, rebuilt areas for group campers, set post at sites, cut branches and brush around sites, and did general clean up of the park. They have a standing invitation with the Park Ranger. They pick the weekend, and the park picks the jobs for them to complete. This has gone on for years now, and it works great for the Rangers, and the park gets cleaned for anyone who wants to camp there and enjoy the park, lake, and the wildlife.

The Humble Wildcatters chapter knits caps for newborns at the local hospital. They have made between 400 - 500 caps. The nurses put the caps on the babies to help keep their heads warm. The chapter also sews stockings for the babies for Christmas.The hospital sends the babies home in the stockings.

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