By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

The paints and colored chalk have been stored, books are once again neatly shelved and gym mats have been carefully rolled and stashed as the CYO Mercer County East State Street Center’s Summer Camp Program has completed another successful and fun-filled season in its Trenton facility.

“We are really proud of it,” said Thomas G. Mladenetz, CYO executive director, of the full-day program operating in the former Martin House Learning Center. “It’s just the third year at that location. In a short time, we’ve made a lot of progress.”

About 130 children ages five to 12 attended the nine-week long camp which stretched from late June to late August. Under the guidance of CYO programs director, Robert Donaldson, the young campers participated in a broad variety of both recreational and educational activities at the facility: arts and crafts; reading; swimming; basketball and other sports, and numerous field trips.

In addition to the Mercer County CYO staff, the children benefitted from the talents of a dedicated group of volunteers from St. David the King Parish, West Windsor. Linda Oliaro, a member of the parish’s social concerns committee, led about 22 teens and adults to the East State Street facility each Tuesday and Thursday to bring other enrichment activities to the children.

“Our volunteers’ ages were from 12 to senior citizen,” Oliaro reported. “Some were parent and child duos, and several men participated this year.”

The West Windsor volunteers read stories to some youngsters and aided in art classes with others. Two of the teens, Lisa Park and Saachi Bedi, completed requirements for their Girl Scout Gold Awards by designing and teaching art awareness and sports teams activities with the eager learners.

“The volunteers got a lot out of it,” said Oliaro. “Over the three years we have been doing this, I’ve seen some of the teens write about the experience on their college essays. When they do it, they want to do it again.

“Every year, God sends people to us when we need it,” she continued. “We needed people to take charge of some of the classes, and God heard.”

Mladenetz expressed gratitude for the teens and adults from St. David the King Parish that came to help teach, motivate and play with the young campers.

“For these young students to come into the inner city every week, I’m sure it was an eye opener,” he noted. “They loved engaging with the campers. It was a win-win for both sides.”