The Camp Committee spent countless hours raising funds for all aspects of Camp Maqua. Most of the money raising was funded by local companies, generous benefactors and volunteer teams. “Shaking the can” for such endeavors was not an easy task, especially during tough financial times. Most families had all they could handle just paying for their own children’s needs, and many of the campers had no idea how or who was paying their way. They were just happy to be going!

Julie Bernard (1970-78) was patently aware of the contrasts between those who came from the wealthy families and those who were on scholarship, but insisted they all got along. It was not a topic of conversation, but she knew there was a family of sisters whose father had been killed in Vietnam and had generous donors not sponsored the girls, they may have never had the camping experience.

For Geraldine McDonald, the years 1954-56 were very special in her young life, and she epitomized the grateful camper. “I was raised by my aunt and uncle. They were seventy years old and took me as a sickly baby. I had five sisters and two brothers and my mother was bed-ridden, so she couldn’t take care of me. They took me to raise when I was three and they were so old-fashioned. It cost a lot of money to go back then. My aunt and uncle were living on social security and my elderly grandfather was also living with them. My sister later told me it was the happiest day of her life when I left, because she was eight and could not take care of me and my Mom.”

“There was a wonderful man who owned a scrap yard in Bay City and his name was Joe Hirschfiield. He hit my brother with his car one day, just bumped him, but did not hurt him. He was a wealthy man. My brother was home living with our parents. My brother took me to see “Uncle Joe”, as he was called, and when he found out I was living with my aunt and uncle, he decided to send me to camp. He took me under his wing. When I went the first summer, I didn’t have the heart to tell him I was devastatingly homesick. I was so fortunate to get to go and he did so many good things for so many people.”

Was it difficult for your family to send you to camp? Were you aware or unaware of the cost? Did another member of your family help defray the cost?