PACK deals with possibility of canceling summer camp

The 12-year-old PACK summer camp for children with severe disabilities might have to pack it in this year because of lack of funding during the recession.

Pasco Association for Challenged Kids treats children to a camp who otherwise would probably be left out, founders Barry and Paula Cohen explain. Most other summer programs aren't set up to handle the special needs of the children. PACK typically serves about 40 children, ages 3-22.

"Our kids have nowhere else to go!" Barry Cohen wrote in the e-mail plea for help. "Most of our kids are severely autistic, and we have several Down's kids as well as many with (cerebral palsy) who are in wheelchairs. Our kids are often non-verbal, not potty trained, have medical needs which require a full-time nurse, and have very challenging behaviors."

The nonprofit organization founded in 1997 still has $10,000 in the bank, Cohen reports.

It would take, however, another $38,000 to put on a traditional camp of four weeks, Cohen said. If the program is trimmed to three weeks, PACK still must raise $26,000. "A two-week camp is not an option," Cohen elaborated, because he probably could not attract enough specially trained staff for that short of a period.

Ordinarily, a state grant has provided much of the necessary funds, Cohen said. State budget deficits meant the end of such grants, however.

Funds from past donors, individual and corporations, also have largely dried up this year, Cohen said.

"We sent a mass mailing out to previous contributors, local legislators and many autism groups, but no donations at all," Cohen continued.

Expenses run high because staff members must have special qualifications, rent on a large facility, insurance premiums and scholarships for families who can't afford the nominal fee PACK charges, Cohen said.

State Sen. Mike Fasano is scrambling to help line up donations, according to Greg Giordano, chief legislative assistant to the Republican senator based in New Port Richey.

Fasano often helped secure state grants for PACK in the past. But the next state budget taking effect July 1 will contain no grant money for the program. Last year, the senator wrote a check to the nonprofit group from leftover campaign funds.

Fasano's staff is trying to spread the word about the "crisis situation" for PACK in hopes benefactors will step up, Giordano said.

"Sometimes they just have to be asked," Giordano concluded.

For more information, go online to www.pascopack.org.