Ellensburg Downtown Rotary supports Operation Purple to send military children to lazy f camp this summer
Ellensburg Downtown Rotary Club is partnering again this year with Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center to support Operation Purple. Rotarians from the club will have the joy of serving the children dinner at the camp in July 2019.
Operation Purple offers a free week of summer fun at the Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center and is open to military connected children from the Northwest from all service branches including National Guard and Reserve, Coast Guard, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the United States Public Health Services Commission Corps. Priority is given to those children who have a parent that has been a wounded warrior, ill or injured and to those that have a parent or guardian deployed from September 2017 to December 2018.
Dave Burfeind, director of Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center, said couldn’t be happier with the partnership.
“For the last 10 years, we have operated this camp for military children and it’s a huge success. We receive great support from the National Military Family Association, but for the last several years we have come up short financially and had to rely on a funding from donors,” Burfeind said. “Ellensburg Downtown Rotary Club stepped in to help with the $5,000-$8,000 dollars that is not covered last year and we are so thankful they are choosing to partner again this year!”
With sponsors and attendance at the Cattle Baron’s Champagne Brunch on Labor Day, the Ellensburg Downtown Rotary Club hopes to bridge the financial gap so that there are funds to ensure the camp is full and the children have an amazing week learning that they are not alone in dealing with the emotionally difficult aspects of having a deployed or wounded military parent.
Ellensburg Downtown Rotary's Cattle Baron’s Champagne Brunch takes place on Monday, Labor Day from 8 to 11 a.m. at Rodeo City BBQ. There will be live music and entertainment, homemade cooking served with western hospitality. Guests 21 years and older will receive a complimentary glass of champagne.