Homeless Children Learn to Thrive at Special Summer Camp

Indianapolis Star November 28, 2024 Jake Allen

At Dayspring Center on Indianapolis' north side, Vanessy Cortes wears many hats, but helping homeless children through her passion of writing is one of her favorite parts of the job.

Cortes, a development coordinator at the center, secures donations, handles marketing and social media and gets to tell stories of the families at the center through grant writing.

"I always knew that I wanted to write," she said. "At Dayspring, there's a lot of stories to tell, and I got attracted to the storytelling aspect of philanthropy."

Dayspring is an emergency shelter for homeless families that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The shelter provides the bare necessities of food, clothing and shelter, and case managers work with each family to develop a plan to help them address the underlying issues of their homelessness.

The center also has programs specifically for children. Camp Discovery is a six-week summer camp that provides activities and helps the children cope with their situations.

"The whole point of our camp is just to make these kids feel like they're kids again," Cortes said. "Their curiosity and child wonder comes back. They don't have to worry about their circumstances for a little bit."

The camp includes field trips to museums and fun, interactive activities at the shelter. For Cortes, the families she serves, especially the children, make her job worthwhile.

"Just seeing the emotional resilience in these kids, that's what keeps me motivated," Cortes said. "It's so important to have a strong community supporting these kids."

What is your organization's mission?

Dayspring Center is a family emergency homeless shelter, and its mission is to lovingly meet the basic needs of homeless families seeking assistance while connecting them with opportunities to realize their potential.

Programs include:

• Shelter and Case Management Program: Families staying at the shelter meet regularly with case managers to take the necessary steps to overcome their current situation.
• Children's Services Program: This program improves the lives of children with tools and resources to support their academic and emotional wellbeing. Camp Discovery, a six-week summer program, is an extension of this program, offering enriching experiences like horse therapy, field trips to museums and other recreational activities.
• Follow-Up Care Program: This program provides continued support and resources to families who have transitioned from the shelter to permanent housing.

How many people do you serve?

In 2024, Dayspring Center served:

• Shelter Program: 69 households (90 adults, 128 children)
• Follow-Up Care Program: 67 families (67 adults, 81 children)

What is your organization's No. 1 need?

Dayspring's No. 1 need is monetary donations. It receives limited government funding, so the majority of its operations rely on individual donors, foundations and corporate partners.

How can people get involved?

There are many ways to assist families at Dayspring Center:

• Volunteer: Volunteering at Dayspring is one of the most impactful ways to get involved, Cortes said. Seeing the work first hand often inspires individuals to become lifelong supporters.
• Sponsor special events: Support fundraising efforts through event sponsorship.
• Donate in-kind contributions: Items like clothing, food, and household essentials are always appreciated, Cortes said.
• Become a monthly donor: A contribution as small as $30 per month can make a significant impact, Cortes said.

How to help through IndyStar's Season for Sharing

The mission of IndyStar's annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of local journalism and to help make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth.

This year, Season for Sharing is joining the Summer Youth Program Fund, a partnership of Indianapolis funders that supports high-quality programs serving more than 80,000 Marion County youth annualy. Your gift to Season for Sharing makes it possible for kids to hike, play sports, act, sing, paint, grow food, perform experiments, build robots, solve problems, explore the city, do service projects, gain job skills, and earn money during their time out of school. Your generosity makes a big difference in the lives of young people in our community. To contribute, visit indystar.com/ocdonate or mail a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your gift will go directly to Central Indiana agencies.

Last year, the Summer Youth Program Fund was only able to provide 55 cents for every dollar requested. Your generosity makes a big difference in the lives of young people in our community.

To contribute, visit indystar.com/ocdonate or mail a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your gift will go directly to Central Indiana agencies.