Help kids go to camp

Photo: Contributed

Not only can people kick back and take in some free concerts, they can help a good cause while doing it.

The Downtown Vernon Association has organized a number of free concerts this summer.

Jammin’ in Justice takes place every Wednesday at noon in Justice Plaza while Civic Sounds takes place at Civic Plaza Thursdays at 6 p.m.

“Both Civic Sounds and Jammin’ in Justice aim to showcase all of the possibilities here in downtown Vernon,” said Dudley Coulter, events and promotions co-ordinator at the DVA.

The concerts will also act as a fundraiser to send local children in need to summer camp through The Salvation Army’s camp program.

Although Civic Sounds is a free event, cash donations to help send local children in need to summer camp are appreciated and will go a long way.

“If 360 attendees each donated just $1, we’d send a child to camp every week,” said Coulter.

The Salvation Army's Camp Sunrise dates back to 1925, when Col. Arch Layman, the newly appointed Divisional Commander, found there was no camp for the Vancouver area and immediately set out to resolve the situation.

Cpt. Fraser Morrison, who was the Divisional Youth People's Secretary at the time, teamed up with the Layman and they went to Gibsons, borrowed a boat from the Y.M.C.A., and rowed up and down the shore, sleeping on beaches, until they located the present site.