John Murray, a 12-year-old from Palmetto Bay, is dedicating time from his busy schedule to raise funds for a great cause. As part of his bar mitzvah — which is when a boy starts to bear his own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition and ethics — he has chosen Camp Hope as his Mitzvah Project.
Camp Hope, a program of Catholic Hospice, is a bereavement camp for children in the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one and focuses on assisting children in dealing with their grief in a fun and safe environment.
John has been attending Camp Hope with his mother, Bonnie Murray, since he was a small child and has actively been volunteering for over four years. John enjoys the camp and he couldn’t think of a better way of giving back.
“I am thrilled that John continues to be involved with Camp Hope. My husband and I are very proud of him,” said Bonnie Murray.
John and some of his friends were in Cutler Bay’s Southland Mall during the winter break spreading the word on Camp Hope, which will take place Apr. 8-10 at Camp Owaissa Bauer in Homestead.
Camp Hope strives to reduce the sense of isolation children feel after suffering a loss. At the camp, children have the opportunity to share their experiences with others who are experiencing similar losses and feelings. Camp Hope is staffed with professional nurses, social workers and trained volunteers to assist in many activities such as art, music and drama therapy, sports and games.
For more information about Camp Hope or to register, contact Angela Melman at 305-351-7026 or send an email request to CampHope@CatholicHospice.org.
