Evelyn “Sue” Palmerton is an amazing, smart, funny, loving adult. She began coming to Pecometh as a camper as she says, “a loooong time ago”.
Our records show it was about 16 years ago to what we called “Special Needs Week”, but now call Summer Respite for Adults with Disabilities. It’s still the highlight of her summer. Sue remembers staying at Chapel Hill cabins with fondness. Her first stay at camp was “fun”, and she has made many friends here.
She said she comes back each year because of several activities in which she loves to participate. These activities include swimming, arts & crafts, Bingo, Bible class, and eating in the dining hall. Sue’s favorite among these is the arts & crafts, with Bingo coming in a close second place. When asked what her favorite “thing” is at camp, Sue exclaims excitedly, “air conditioning!!” This is something she has been fortunate enough to experience in recent years here at Pecometh.
Sue has been working for Sodexo since 1999, in the kitchen for the public school system. She works in the “dish room” at Kent Island High School. The County Ride bus takes her from her home, where she lives with her sister, Phyllis Hurley, to the high school and back home each day.
Sometime after 1999, (Sue couldn’t recall just when), she began helping in the kitchen here at Pecometh during the summer seasons. Since Sue is the only one from Kent Island High School who gets to work here through Sodexo, she feels that she is quite special. We know she is! The Chester Wye provides a bus four days a week to transport her here from home, and her sister brings her on Fridays.
Sue’s favorite thing about working at Pecometh is her interaction with people. She loves her people, and they love her. Pecometh gives Sue the opportunity to meet new people every summer, and to re-connect with her old friends as well. Working here brings to her a sense of purpose and belonging, which is paramount to all of us as we go through life.
We know that Camps and Retreats aren't just one-time experiences - there are so many people for whom one visit was just the beginning of a whole lifetime of memories made at Pecometh! This fall we are featuring a few members of the Pecometh family, who have shared their Pecometh story with us. How many years has it been since your first Pecometh experience? Post a photo and let us hear your story!Topics: Camp, Transforming the World