And News From The Camp @ Camp Sister Spirit Ovett, Mississippi We hope this letter finds everyone healthy and happy! Autumn is upon us and the land is beautiful in all her fall colors. South Mississippi is finally getting some much needed rain. It was so bad over the summer that both of our ponds dried up. We have now seen turtles headed back to the ponds and have seen beautiful ducks stopping on their way south to rest and enjoy our little spot out in the woods. This past summer we hosted a fundraiser for Mississippi Pagan Pride. It was an eventful gathering and we enjoyed making new friends and seeing old ones. In October we had our Harvest Moon Gathering and had a great time. We found 3 more stray dogs homes at the gathering and we know they are going to be loved and taken care of. We made just enough money at the gathering to pay for all of their shots. We have found that people are more willing to take the animals’ home if they already have their vet visits and shots. We are delighted and so are the new owners of Daisy, Dixie, and Delilah. Last week the Mississippi State Department of Health presented the Breast Health Awareness program here at Camp. It is the first time CSSFS has worked collaboratively with the State! We advertised in the town of Ovett at the post office and general store. 5 people from Ovett came to the presentation. I know it might not seem like a big deal but to us it was a huge step in enjoying our new found acceptance in our little town. I have enclosed an article that the Hattiesburg American (our local paper) printed July 9th, which is also my partner Terri’s birthday. What a fabulous birthday gift. Katrina, though still leaving us reeling, was a blessing in disguise in many ways. The Camp is still in need of your help. We decided to keep the trailer that was cut in half by the tree during the storm. Half will be an office and the other half a sleep space for people. We still need funds to keep working to recover from Katrina. We are also working on winterizing the Camp better as we have little income in the winter because of the weather. Only 3 cabins have heat and there is no place warm for visitors to take a shower. The food bank is still up and running though the shelves are almost empty. Pagan Pride Day did a food drive in September and helped us get food to give to people but we are always struggling to keep supplies for our families who need help. We are also beginning to work our annual Christmas Toy and Book drive.(culturally diverse books are welcome!) The school supply drive went great and we had supplies left after Katrina to help a dozen kids for school. Thanks and blessings to all of you for supporting the camp. We are making a difference in Mississippi. We are proud of our work and could not do it without the kindness and generosity of people like you. Come Visit us and know that we appreciate everyone’s love and support. Sincerely, Andie Gibbs Executive Director Camp Sister Spirit Folk School Ovett, MS |