Story of twins inspires donor to fund their camp experience

The plea of 9-year-old twins, Tim and Tom, to go to summer camp touched the heart of loyal Press-Telegram reader Evangeline Gatling, 67.

Evangeline said she was an identical twin herself and has “fond memories of spending wonderful time with my twin sister. We continue to be close and share everything, I think far more than non-twin siblings.”

In a letter to the Press-Telegram, Evangeline said she wanted to sponsor both Tim and Tom so they could experience their special time at summer camp together.

“Please honor my request so these twins can share this rate opportunity and also make a 67-year-old senior twin very happy,” she wrote.

The Press-Telegram is happy to make Evangeline happy and will send Tim and Tom to one week at summer camp in the San Beardino Mountains.

You can help other kids like Tim and Tom enjoy a week at summer camp by donating to the Press-Telegram’s Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Fund.

The Press-Telegram and the Long Beach Community Foundation have partnered to send kids to mountain camps operated by Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Camp Fire USA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The average cost of sending a child to one week at camp is $400.

It was exactly to help youths like Tim and Tom that motivated Tom Heessy, the Press-Telegram’s longtime columnist, to start the Kid-to-Camp Fund 17 years ago.

To honor Heessy, who died April 2, all of this year’s campers will be called “Tom’s Kids.”

Evangeline said she was sending in her donation in memory of Heessy “for providing hope in times where there seems to be none for our children in need.”

We could not have said it better. Thank you, Evangeline, for making a difference in the lives of two children.

Weekly total for May 12-19: $13,550

Total this campaign: $44,575

Donors this week:

Anonymous

Anonymous

Shirley Ahlgren

Helen Apostle

Vincent S. Basile

Dixie and Jack Butler

Lee and Sherry Canaday

Blossom Carmichael

Carl E. Curtis

Julie and Stephen Darling

Elizabeth Day

The DobberPuhl Family

Don and Wendy Ebright

Nora Fleming in memory of Edwin “E.J.” Gaede

Helen Freebo

A Garabedian

Evangeline Gatling

Floyd and Ruth Guey

Keith Hafen

Susan Jerram

Aa and Richard Joyce

Margaret Keyes

Gayle Knapp

John and Lisa Knapp

Robert and Barbara Jean Knapp

Advertisement

James and Thora Lamhofer

Sam and Lucy Lanting

Barbara Lichtenstein in memory of Day and David Kirkendall

Angela Loya

Doa and Ray MacPherson

Joan Maguire

Charles and Carolyn Marchi

Steezware - Scott McDonell

Rita Jensen Michener

Marlene & Wayz Middough

In memory of Betty Wright

Patricia and Harold Omel

Christie Peck

Tim Rosbottom

Mike and Fran Sawdei

Jane Scales

In memory of Sandi Shadden

Marian Stocking

James and Tina Vince

Ms. Sandy Wasky

R.G. Watson

Louise Wilde

Roger Working