“It was like a scene out of Tom Sawyer,” says David Haims ’87, ’93 J.D., remembering the day last year when he and his family participated in their first Notre Dame Family Volunteer Camp. They and more than 40 other participants painted the fence in front of Logan Center, a South Bend organization for people with disabilities. “By the end of the day, we could step back and see a visual representation of our hard work,” recalls Haims.

This year marked the second time Haims, his wife Dianne ’88, and their five children participated in the Family Volunteer Camp, a program that began in 1997. Katie Zakas ’04, director of service for the Alumni Association, explains that the goal of Family Volunteer Camp is to make volunteering an opportunity for alumni and their children to perform community service side-by-side. “This way, parents can pass on the values of social justice through the generations, as well as help the South Bend community,” Zakas says.

Family Volunteer Camp projects are varied, but often involve manual labor and include several different projects throughout the week. Past projects helped such organizations as Reins for Life, a facility that teaches the physically and mentally disabled to ride horses; Hope Ministries, a Christian facility that runs a soup kitchen; and the South Bend Center for the Homeless.

The same families often return annually to participate in Family Volunteer Camp. “The kids make lasting friendships here. Even though they only see each other once a year, they stay in contact,” says Zakas.

Bob ’84 and Patty Fink ’85 have been bringing their children to Family Volunteer Camp for eight years, the longest of any of the participants. Colleen Fink, now 11, loves the experience. “Even though I’m working hard, I have fun because I’m with friends and we’re helping people,” she says.

Initially, some children may worry about taking valuable time away from their summer vacations. “When we first came six years ago, our kids weren’t excited, but we thought they needed to come. They needed to learn to appreciate what they have,” says John McMannis ’78.

This year, when Family Volunteer Camp families went to the Center for the Homeless, they ate dinner with some of the residents. “It’s the times when they get to interact with the people they’re helping that have the most profound effect on my children,” McMannis reflects.

While at the Center for the Homeless, participants also got the chance to revisit the urban garden they helped landscape last year, now complete and filled with healthy plants. Justin McMannis, John McMannis’ 14-year-old son, was browsing through the plants, trying to identify the different vegetables. “I can see how I make a difference,” Justin said, “Especially with this garden – it used to be nothing and now it can actually feed people.”

Due to high interest, the program expanded to two sessions for 2009. The 67 participants, 23 in June and 45 in July, stayed in a residence hall on campus. They paid a participation fee to cover their rooms, board and incidental expenses.

To learn more or become involved in Family Volunteer Camp, contact Katie Zakas by e-mail or at 574-631-6723. Information about next year’s sessions will be available beginning in January.