Community Impact

Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Employees Volunteer to Clean Up Ohio Camp for Children with Type 1 Diabetes

September 6th, 2024 | 2 min read

A group of Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ employees.

More than 25 Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ employees mobilized to support Camp Ho Mita Koda by clearing fallen trees and debris from its campgrounds. (Photo: Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ)

CLEVELAND, Ohio (CARESOURCE) – Early last month, multiple EF-1 tornadoes touched down in several Northeast Ohio counties. The National Weather Service reported that more than 400,000 residents were left without power, the most significant number recorded In Northeast Ohio in nearly three decades.

Volunteers clearing debris from the camp.

Camp Ho Mita Koda was hit hard by the tornadoes and was one of the many organizations most affected by the storms. (Photo: Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ)

Located in Geauga County, Camp Ho Mita Koda, is a community retreat center and camp for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes. Founded in 1929, Camp Ho Mita Koda is the first and oldest operating summer camp in the world for children with Type 1 diabetes.

The camp was hit hard by the tornadoes and was one of the many organizations most affected by the storms. To help the camp get back into shape to be able to accept visiting campers, on Thursday, August 15, more than 25 Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ employees mobilized to support Camp Ho Mita Koda by clearing fallen trees and debris from its campgrounds.

Volunteers clearing trees from the camp.

Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ volunteers helped clear trees from the camp's site. (Photo: Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ)

“I attended Camp Ho Mita Koda from age 7 through 17 years old,” said Stephanie Stitt, Ohio director of behavioral health for Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ. “I know firsthand how important it is for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes to have access to the resources they need to just be kids and have fun. It really was something special to see my Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ colleagues come together and volunteer to help support the camp and get things back to normal for both the camp and their campers.”

As a result of the work by the Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ volunteers, Camp Ho Mita Koda is making meaningful steps towards a full recovery and is looking forward to hosting campers and empower children and teenagers with Type 1 diabetes again next summer.