In recognition of CAMP Rehoboth’s 20th anniversary, we’re continuing our Volunteer Spotlight to honor many of the behind-the-scenes heroes that we’re so fortunate to have in our CAMP family.
The Spotlight is an ongoing column in Letters and features recipients who’ve been selected by the volunteers themselves and you, our readers.
If you know someone whose efforts are worthy of consideration, please make a nomination. We’ll be maintaining a database that will be used to help determine future recipients. Email us at info@camprehoboth.com and put “Volunteer Spotlight” in the subject line.
Deb Qualey and Karen Gustafson on CAMP and Life at the Beach
Deb Qualey and Karen Gustafson reside in Rehoboth Beach, along with their 40 pound, mixed-breed dog, Karma, and two cats, Angus and Marc. Deb is an anesthesiologist, and Karen, once retired, is now a full time realtor.
When/why did you start volunteering for CAMP?
After moving here full time in late 2005, it didn’t take long to discover that CAMP Rehoboth was responsible for the accepting community found in the Rehoboth area. For us, it became our duty to help the founders of CAMP to move this forward for the next generation moving to the area.
What’s been your best memory volunteering here?
There are so many. Probably the most touching occurred when our CAMP Rehoboth Golf League, in a matter of minutes, raised over $10,000 to buy a van for the West Rehoboth Youth Program. We’ve also weeded gardens in West Rehoboth, and cleaned yards for folks that can’t do it themselves any longer.
What does CAMP Rehoboth mean to you?
It’s amazing what you discover when travelling away from Rehoboth…what many people now take for granted in this community, doesn’t exist to the same extent outside our little world. We are so grateful to have this foundation that CAMP Rehoboth has established, and to see it grow and its message expanded beyond our borders. We would love to see a time when our visitors to Rehoboth, who come to discover what is so special here, take it back to their own communities. Taking the ideas and plans we’ve instituted here to bring tolerance, diversity, and the same kind of community spirit to other neighborhoods.
If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do?
Enjoy the natural beauty we have here at the beach. Funny, we recently went on vacation to another beach resort—since we rarely find the time to go to the beach here.
If you could spend a full day with one person, who would it be? Why?
We get so busy with the day to day task of life. It wouldn’t be just one person, it would be our families. We love spending time with them.
Wouldn’t you like to be a CAMPer too?” How would you help encourage someone to get involved with us?
We should all be thankful for the wonderful life we enjoy here in Rehoboth, and spend time giving back to our community.
SHHHH! Please provide a little known fact about you…until now, that is…
Now if we told you that, it wouldn’t be a secret any longer, would it?
First thought that comes to mind when you hear the word “Rehoboth?”
Home!
What else do you like to do in your spare time, assuming you have any?
We love to play poker!
