Mineral Area Labor Club donates $5K to Midwest Children’s Burn Camp

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE – Mineral Area Labor Club President Lee Asher (third from left) presents a $5,000 check to Midwest Children’s Burn Camp representatives Madeleine Carson (fourth from left) and Rachel “Rocky” Sanger (fifth from left) along with (from left) Insulators Local 1’s Joseph “Sonny” Costa, Southeast Missouri Building Trades President J.J. Lane, Iron Workers Local 396’s Travis Barnes (second from right) and IBEW Local 1’s Mark McManus (right). – Labor Tribune photo

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Missouri Correspondent

IBEW Local 1 journeyman Mark McManus’ son Cody, who was burned by a stove during a camping trip, attended Midwest Children’s Burn Camp (MCBC) when he was seven years old.

MCBC, located in Lesterville, Mo., is a one-week overnight summer camp that gives a child the opportunity to meet other children who have also experienced burn or smoke inhalation injuries in a safe and supporting environment.

‘GAME-CHANGER’
“About a year after the accident happened, he went to camp for a week, and it was a game-changer for him,” said McManus, of Guarantee Electric. “He came back a totally different person – full of confidence.”

And the success of the camp is why the Mineral Area Labor Club decided to call on its many affiliates to help support the organization with a $5,000 donation and a free shipping container to store the camp’s materials.

‘HAPPY TO HELP’
“We’re happy to help,” said Mineral Area Labor Club President Lee Asher, of IBEW Local 1. “We asked all our unions to donate and reached out to Cape Rock Rentals for the storage container, which they donated.”

The camp is run by Burns Recovered, a non-profit organization designed to help every burn survivor live life to its fullest without limitations, fear or insecurity. It’s the only camp in Missouri dedicated to youth burn survivors.

‘GRATEFUL’
“We are so grateful to receive the donation,” said Madeleine Carson, Burns Recovered director of youth services. “It will help pay for supplies and other activities at camp, which takes the burden off us, allowing us to provide the camp to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it.”

ABOUT THE CAMP
The camp usually takes place the last week of July or the first week in August at Camp Taum Sauk, 499 County Road 368, in Lesterville. It is free to any child six through 17 who has survived burn or smoke inhalation injuries thanks to generous donations, fundraisers and grants.

For more information about the camp or to donate, visit brsg.org or call 314-939-1550.

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