Getting Grist ready to go
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 6, 2005
Five months after Hurricane Ivan hit Alabama, its effects can still be clearly recognized in many areas.
Unfortunately, YMCA’s Camp Grist happens to be one of those areas.
In addition to the complete destruction of Cabin 8, several buildings and activity courses experienced damage, and many trees, limbs, and other debris was strewn about the camp ground.
“An easy response would have been to throw our hands up,” said Kim Cogle, Co-chair of a Camp Grist Committee. “Instead, we sent out a call.”
Saturday, that call was answered.
In what will hopefully be the first of many clean up efforts, nearly 20 volunteers arrived at Camp Grist at 9 a.m. armed with their own personal tools of restoration.
According to Cogle, they brought their own gloves, sledgehammers, chain saws, and even their own sack lunches.
“This was a very successful effort,” said Angela Miller, CEO of the Selma YMCA “To my knowledge, we have never started this early in the year getting ready for camp.”
In addition to the on-going cleaning/restoration efforts, Camp Grist will also make some much needed repairs and upgrades to different areas. “There are a lot of long-term goals for camp,” said Miller. “The kitchen will be completely gutted and refurbished and we are going to have heating and cooling in the lodge. There are a lot of great things happening, but the initial goals have to be met before they do,”
Camp Grist, located 20 miles outside of Selma at the Paul Grist State Park,
was established primarily to assist children with character and self-esteem building, and to instill in them principles of Christian leadership.
In addition to summer, day, and resident’s camp, the lodge area can be rented out for various activities.
“It is a really neat setting,” said Miller. “It is a beautiful area and we are blessed to have it.”
“The camp has been kept together by hard work, volunteer effort, sweat equity, dedication, and desire,” said Cogle.
“We still need materials. Any effort that they can make will be appreciated. We will be thankful if they can give a hard days work.”
If you would like to donate time and/or materials for the Camp Grist clean up effort, please contact Allyson Dansby, Program Director at (334) 874-7476.