City Gate

Temperatures here in DC tell us summer is on the way. School will be out in just a few more weeks. Families are looking forward to vacations, trips to the beach, and other special activities.

For City Gate, this is one of the busiest times of the year as we plan and prepare our summer program. This year we have camps in Southeast DC, Columbia Heights, and Tenleytown neighborhoods, plus an additional youth empowerment program for teenagers that will touch the lives of as many as 200 children and youth.

We are putting together a great program and staff, and have some — but not all — the resources we need. And that’s where we need you. You might be able to pick up the cost of camp for one child for the whole summer, or for a week, or maybe just a day. But we need partners who believe, as we do, that every kid should have a safe place to go, activities that are both fun and enriching, three good meals every day, and new experiences that will help children grow and thrive.

Together we can make a difference for children living in poverty. We can provide a safe and supportive environment every weekday through the summer. We can make sure kids get three good meals a day. We can allow kids to be kids: having fun at the pool or playing games, taking day trips or participating in special events. We can expand their horizons through new experiences, and provide engaging educational enrichment that will help kids go back to school in September with greater self-confidence and stronger academic skills.

I invite you this spring to make an investment in a child by helping us provide the summer opportunities that will help them reach their God-given potential. Please take a moment to read our “Make Summer Great in 2008” flyer to see how you can be involved. We thank you for your compassion for children, for your prayers, and your financial support.

For love of the children,

Lynn Bergfalk