Bokenkamp Children's Shelter

Providing short-term care with long-term impact

Bokenkamp Children's Shelter is an emergency shelter for approximately 60 unaccompanied refugee children from Central and South America, ranging in age from infants to teens. These children have all experienced some form of traumatic separation from their families. Bokenkamp provides short-term care that will leave a long-term impact in these children's lives by offering shelter, education and spiritual care. Learn More

“Fundraising is an Extreme Sport!”

By: Lonni Swanson

6/24/2010

That phrase was poached from Marc Pitman, founder of FundraisingCoach.com, a website dedicated to practical ideas for fundraising more effectively. He has a point! Fundraising is not for the faint of heart. Asking for money is kind of scary. It means regular exposure to the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. While there can be triumphs of the human spirit, there are also a few crash landings along the way.

The consistently high quality services LSS strives to provide to children, the elderly, and others in need would not be possible if we weren’t able to conduct successful, ongoing fundraisers.

At LSS, the extreme fundraising athletes are called the Agency Advancement Team*. Led by senior vp David Kahle and vp for community/church relations Dan Zieschang, this group covers the territory of Texas meeting with donors and choreographing a series of annual events and benefits: “Make a Difference” in Austin, “Celebre La Buena Vida” in El Paso, “Caring for Kids” in Denton, “Spring Fling” in Lubbock, and “Change a Life at Bokenkamp” in Corpus Christi. Plus “Tomorrow’s Child” golf benefits in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Denton.

What drives these risk-takers? A great cause … the ministries of Lutheran Social Services, providing help, healing, and hope to seniors, those in financial need, and children in foster care and residential treatment centers.Please say a little prayer for David, Dan, and their team … for many safe and successful landings in the future!

*David and Dan are ably assisted by Kristy McKinney, Karen Bernstein, Delores Neutzler, Diane Covert, Susan Rang, Karen Kracht, Nicole Griesse, and grant writers Cecelia Blanford and Flo Shaw.

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Juan's Story 

Juan is a bright, cheerful and determined 12-year-old from Honduras. His mother and father, hoping for a better life for their child than the unending poverty, violence and hunger of their homeland, spent their life savings to send their son to live with relatives in America. He arrived at Bokenkamp Children's Shelter after traveling on foot over 700 miles of punishing terrain before he finally reached the United States. Along the way he would survive violent attacks that left him fearful and withdrawn.

When Juan arrived at Bokenkamp, he was malnourished, dehydrated and sunburned. His feet were in worse condition than most. Not only were they raw from blisters, but they were infected from where he stepped in prickly pear cactus.

The staff cleaned and treated his wounds. His feet began to heal, but the psychological and emotional wounds took longer to get better. Thanks to the love and care of the staff, Juan has made another journey -- from a fearful refugee to a laughing, happy child.

He is learning English and how to read and write in his native language, as well as how to play games, laugh and smile all over again. He is no longer plagued by fears of the dark or of enclosed spaces. Most importantly, he has begun the process of being reunited with family in the United States.

Bokenkamp Children's Shelter receives funding from the
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement.

© 2009 Bokenkamp Children's Shelter is part of the Lutheran Social Services, Inc. family of ministries.