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CRAMMED FULL OF PRIZES - Lynette Cram was one of the lucky prize winners at the annual Young Life Dessert fundraiser at La Conner Elementary School on Nov. 10. That's Kevin Carlton, left, who appears to have won a free hair dye and styling session.
Life may be just a bowl of cherries, but Young Life offers a full range of desserts.
That was borne out once again during the annual Young Life Dessert fundraiser at La Conner Elementary School Sunday night.
The event is held here each November to provide financial support for students who attend Young Life summer camps, an experience master of ceremonies Peter Voorhees, a La Conner High School teacher and coach, described as life changing.
Young Life donors filled the elementary school's commons area for a 90-minute program that featured game show-type contests, raffles and testimonials. Desserts were prepared and served by La Conner culinary arts students.
The main ingredients at Sunday's gathering were fun and fellowship. At one point, donor Tim Goodman bid $100 for a small container of ice cream to go with dessert, then shared it with other attendees. Goodman later paid $150 for a jar of honey.
"We've been able to send quite a few kids to camp and that's no small feat," Voorhees said, citing a working partnership between the La Conner and Swinomish communities.
Debbie Thulen said that the local Young Life chapter sent its largest number ever of middle school students to camp last summer.
Young Life is a Christian ministry devoted to diversity and whose outreach helps students grow their faith.
"We appreciate what you do," said guest speaker J.J. Wilbur, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community senator, Fire District 13 commissioner and La Conner School Board member. "You help these kids grow and build a foundation to carry them through life."
Voorhees cited La Conner alum Kenneth Cayou. He was active in Young Life as a student, served eight years in the U.S. Navy and now volunteers as a La Conner chapter leader.
"Kenneth went off and served his country and has come back to serve his community," said Voorhees.
Another Young Life volunteer in La Conner, Kevin Carlton, noted how campers asked him which chapters of the Bible they should read. He suggested the four gospels.
"After they finished reading those," Carlton recalled, "they asked me what they should read next, and I said Acts and Romans would be good. Then, after that, they again asked what they should read next. So, the seeds were planted, and God is at work in their lives."
The Bibles presented to campers were purchased with funds donated by La Conner Soroptimists Ruby Award winner Janie Beasley. She said the Soroptimists' award included $500 to be used for support of a local charity.
La Conner student camper Yandel Rojas said one of his goals now is to read from the Bible daily.
High school senior Josie Adams said she saw the positive impact Young Life has on students.
La Conner graduate Gordy Burks related how students have repeatedly told him that attending summer camp "was the best thing I've ever done in my life."
Burks said Young Life helps teach students what direction they can choose when life gets tough.
Life in La Conner was anything but tough Sunday night. A steady diet of pie, brownies, ice cream and laughter made sure of that.
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