This years annual visit to the Texas Lions Camp for Handicap Children on June 8th-10th was our 14th year of working with the wonderful and excited campers and their councelors as always and so many smiling faces of happy children with a handful of foreign coins there was. We saw over 130 kids this year and like every year was able to teach them the joys of treasure hunting with new metal detectors that Garrett donated to the Camp three years ago. After our visit the councelors take over teaching the many new campers that come during the summer. Some 2000 campers are expected this summer and it is an activity that the campers look forward to. Remember many of these councelors are foreign students and that take what they have learned home with them in other parts of the world, so there is no end to how many benefit from our annual visits to the Camp.

This was a program that Nolan Underwood (Camp Activity Director--now deceased) and I started 14 years ago and it would not be possible without all of you in clubs that support this effort by donating your foreign coins you found or purchased--we never forget that! Behind the scenes with very little praise, is those that take the time each year to travel and be there to help with our annual visits, you know who you are. It cost them in many ways, but one look of the big smiles on kids faces and it is all worth it. These folks should be announce before your club for their efforts.

Has it dawned on each of you that visit to the Camp does in fact make a difference in so many of these children's lives. The letters I receive describe it best like this sample:

Dear Mr. Wills,

Your time you took to work with my daughter and teach her to metal detector for coins has changed her life. We had to buy her a detector and she started hunting our yard from her wheelchair right away, now we take her to the park several times a week so she can use that detector there too. She has even started knocking doors in the neighborhood to gain permission to hunt other neighbor's yards as well.

Before your visit to the camp this summer, she only set in front of her computer at home and would not go outside. My husband and I give thanks to you and yours everyday.

God Bless you everyone. The Tates.

Words are not enough, but thank you everyone and please remember to save those foreign coins for the kids--it is the ONLY way the program will continue for these campers.

Sincerely, Keith Wills