COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Each year, the Retreat of Awakening partners with a charitable organization for our community project, to create opportunities for all of us to cultivate loving kindness and compassion, bring joy to others, and realize everyone’s interconnections.

Purpose of the Community Project sessions at Camp:

• Provide volunteer opportunities to spread Kindness and Be of Service to our community

• Lift the spirits of people 

• Meet the evolving needs of the communities where we host our annual summer Retreats

• Practice the virtues of Compassion and Gratitude

Operation Love:  In 2024, we are partnering with the Books Between Kids, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Houston, Texas who strives to get books into the hands of economically disadvantaged children in the Greater Houston area.   To date, they have given away more than 2 million books to partner schools and early childhood centers in Houston through their book celebration program.  We are asking campers to help collect new and gently-used books and bring them to the camp in Aug 30 - Sept 2.   

Operation Hope:  In 2023, we partnered with the Foster Kids Charity, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Dallas, Texas who strives to ensure that every child in the foster care system has their basic personal needs met and continues to improve the well-being of children while they are in foster care.  Campers will be making gifts for the foster kids and doing a Toy Drive.

Operation Kindness:  In 2020, Covid-19 significantly increased the food insecurity around the country.  Hence, we raised funds through t-shirt sales to support the Houston Food Bank, San Antonio Food Bank, and The Farmlink Project.  

Operation Compassion:  In 2019, we partnered with the Lotus School Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Texas, with a mission to build schools in rural, poverty-stricken villages and provide equal education opportunities for children worldwide.  Our campers put together "LEGOs Kit Gift".

Operation Unity:  In 2018, we partnered with Unity Care in California, to put together "Care School Backpacks" to benefit the foster children, supporting Unity Care's Annual Backpack Drive. 

Operation Gratitude:  In 2017, we made "Bear Towels" to donate to 2 organizations supporting families/youth in Colorado:  Sun Valley Youth Center and Colfax Community Network.

Operation Love & Gratitude:  In 2016, we made "Socks Cupcake" to donate to nursing homes in Dallas, TX and Oklahoma City, OK.