Helping 350 Refugee Children Feel Welcomed at Lodi Summer Camp, Syracuse NY

A Summer Camp That Feels Like Home

For many children, summer is a season filled with camps, friendships, and new adventures.

For many children from refugee and newly arrived families, however, summer can look very different. When school is out, parents are often balancing multiple jobs or overnight shifts as they work to establish new lives in the United States. Without access to structured programs, children may have fewer opportunities to learn, play, and connect with others during the break.

That’s why community summer camps play such an important role. They provide safe spaces where children can build friendships, gain confidence, and simply enjoy being kids.

This year, GFoundation was honored to support one of those opportunities through Lodi Summer Camp hosted by Korean Church of Syracuse, helping make summer a little brighter for refugee children in the local community.

A Community United to Serve Refugee Children

From June 30 through July 3, Korean Church of Syracuse welcomed 350 children from 30 different countries to its annual Summer Camp—nearly 100 more children than last year.

The camp was made possible through a remarkable partnership of churches across New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Korea. More than 140 volunteers, including church members and community partners, came together to organize activities, mentor children, and create a welcoming environment throughout the five-day event.

Every game, conversation, and shared meal reflected one common goal: helping children feel safe, valued, and connected.

One especially meaningful tradition took place behind the scenes. Volunteers wrote each child’s name on a prayer wall and prayed for them individually throughout the camp, offering encouragement and support for every child who attended.

Why Summer Camps Matter for Refugee Families

Summer can be one of the most challenging seasons for many refugee families.

Parents are often working long or irregular hours, leaving children with limited access to supervised activities while school is out. Beyond the loss of daily routines, children can also experience social isolation during the summer months as they continue adjusting to a new language, culture, and community.

Programs like Lodi Summer Camp help bridge that gap by providing:

• A safe and supervised environment
• Educational and creative activities
• Sports, games, and team-building experiences
• Opportunities to make new friends
• Caring adult mentors who encourage and support every child

These experiences help children stay engaged during the summer while strengthening their confidence and sense of belonging.

How GFoundation Helped

To help make this year’s camp even more memorable, GFoundation donated educational supplies and toys that were included in 220 gift bags prepared for participating children.

Our contribution included:

• 80 boxes of 24-count crayons
• 80 packs of washable markers (10-count)
• 80 glue sticks
• 80 small plush toys or action figures
• 80 small board games

Rather than creating identical gift bags, Korean Church of Syracuse thoughtfully combined these donated items with other community contributions.

These simple gifts encouraged creativity, learning, and play long after the camp ended—and reminded children that their community cares about them.

Thank You for Helping Make This Possible

Our support for summer camps for refugee children is still ongoing.

Many local churches and community organizations continue providing safe, welcoming programs for refugee children throughout the summer, and your support helps make these opportunities possible.

Your donation helps provide educational supplies, activity materials, hygiene essentials, and thoughtful gifts that encourage children as they learn, play, and build friendships in their new communities.

Every gift—big or small—helps create a place where a child feels seen, supported, and welcomed.

The Summer Continues

The joy of Lodi Summer Camp doesn’t end here.

Later this month, GFoundation will continue supporting children through another community summer camp in Louisville, Kentucky, where local churches and volunteers are preparing a week of sports, friendship, and encouragement for refugee and newly arrived families.

We’re also preparing:

• Louisville Soccer Camp Gift Bags filled with school supplies, toys, and summer essentials
• Menstrual Hygiene Kits for girls participating in health education sessions

With your support, even more children can experience a safe, welcoming, and memorable summer.
Donate today to help more refugee children experience the joy of summer, the support of community, and the hope of a brighter future.

How You Can Get Involved

Your support can help provide the essential items that make these summer camp experiences possible.

Together, we can help children build confidence, create lasting memories, and enjoy a summer filled with friendship, learning, and opportunity.