CAMP Block Party this Weekend!
Join us this Sunday, October 16, 11 a.m.-4:00 p.m., for one of CAMP Rehoboth’s biggest events of the year: the annual Block Party. The event makes its grand return after a few years lost to the pandemic and weather. Filling the second block of Baltimore Avenue will be dozens of vendors, from artisans and craftspeople to delicious food makers and local businesses. Plus, entertainment, including the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus ensemble, will take to the stage in front of the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard. See camprehoboth.com for more details, and don’t miss the return of this incredible event! ▼
“Easy As Pie” Fundraiser Is Back
Delaware HIV Consortium’s annual “Easy as Pie” fundraiser is back, and CAMP Rehoboth is proud to be a site for pie pickups leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. The fundraiser directly benefits programs statewide for the Delaware HIV Consortium and the Ministry of Caring.
On Tuesday, November 22, pies will be available for pick up at CAMP Rehoboth’s office. Donations both yield a delicious Thanksgiving pie or cake for the donor and help to provide vital services to Delawareans infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including food, housing, medication co-pays, and financial assistance. The fundraiser is organized and available online at delawarehiv.org. Or, see here for more information. ▼
Second hMPVX Vaccine Clinic Held
On September 20, CAMP Rehoboth hosted a second-dose clinic for 200 hMPVX (monkeypox) vaccine appointments. Teaming up with the Division of Public Health (DPH), this vaccine clinic came four weeks after the first-dose clinic on August 23. The vaccine becomes fully effective two weeks after the second dose.
More vaccines are available through Beebe Healthcare (check beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling), or call the DPH Public Hotline at 866-408-1899, operational Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Questions may also be emailed to DPHCall@delaware.gov. ▼
Partnering to Present All Man Film
CAMP Rehoboth is partnering with the Rehoboth Beach Film Society to present a movie on Wednesday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m., at the Cinema Art Theater. The film, All Man: The International Male Story, is a nostalgic and colorful peek behind the pages and personalities of International Male, one of the most ubiquitous and sought-after mail-order catalogs of the '80s and '90s.
The post-party reception, sponsored by CAMP Rehoboth, will begin at 12:30 p.m. See this page for more details and information, and for a link to purchase tickets. ▼
The Lodge at Truitt Homestead Presents $10,500 to CAMP Rehoboth
In mid-September, The Lodge at Truitt Homestead representatives presented $10,531 to CAMP Rehoboth. In June, the Lodge at Truitt Homestead celebrated its second annual Summer Solstice, a social gathering for community members and a fundraiser to support CAMP Rehoboth’s key programming. Check presentation attendees include (l-r) Kristin Kraus, Suzette Chambers, Tori Lyter, Bill Blakely, Lisa Evans, Laurie Johnson, Pat Catanzaniti, Kaitlin Labadie, and Yvonne Frankis.
CAMP Rehoboth thanks The Lodge at Truitt Homestead for their continued support! ▼
Firefly Music Festival Celebrates Pride
From September 23-25, CAMP Rehoboth’s Young Professionals Group celebrated Pride at Firefly Music Festival. Last year, Firefly introduced The Good Hub, a section of the festival devoted to bringing local non-profits’ missions to festival-goers. CAMP Rehoboth was ecstatic to be present both years, bringing visibility and representation for the LGBTQ+ community.
In its second year, the Good Hub expanded with even more non-profits, including Headcount, Planned Parenthood, and the Brandywine SPCA. Those stopping at CAMP Rehoboth’s booth were happy to receive giveaways like stickers, bracelets, condom keychains, LGBTQ pride flags, and rainbow/trans flag-colored body paint. On Sunday, September 25, CAMP Rehoboth walked Firefly’s Pride Parade—the only Pride in any major music festival—along with stilt-walkers, a brass band, and drag queens led by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14’s Jasmine Kennedie. Kennedie also performed at multiple brunches and bingo events during the festival. Volunteers from CAMP Rehoboth’s Young Professionals Group held up giant letters to spell P-R-I-D-E.. ▼
Pictured (clockwise, from upper left): CAMP Rehoboth in the Pride parade; parade stiltwalkers; CAMP’s Amber Lee; Charlie, who stopped by the CAMP Rehoboth booth to craft a bracelet spelling out “unashamed”; CAMP’s Matty Brown.
Delaware Historical Society Teams with CAMP Rehoboth
CAMP Rehoboth is teaming up with the Delaware Historical Society (DHS) on an educator resource to teach LGBTQ+ history in schools. This results from the Delaware General Assembly House Concurrent Resolution 90, which passed in the summer. The resolution, according to its synopsis, “encourages the Department of Education, in consultation with key stakeholders, to identify age-appropriate lessons for students in grades 7-12 related to LGBTQ+ history by the start of 2024-25 school year. It also encourages the Department of Education to survey school districts and charter schools regarding the utilization of related materials and short lessons by the end of the 2024-25 school year.”
Work on the educator resource is underway. Plans include offering basic terminology and key vocabulary relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, and using exercises from past and present issues of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth in primary source analysis activities. As the oldest LGBTQ+ publication in Delaware, Letters is proud to work with the DHS on this vital project. ▼
AIDS Walk Delaware Recap
With the theme of “Step Up, Step Out,” AIDS Walk Delaware boasted two simultaneous walks (one in Wilmington and one in Rehoboth Beach) on September 17, bringing out dozens of walkers to show solidarity and awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS in the state. In the Rehoboth Beach walk, participants started in Grove Park and walked along the main avenue, cutting across First Street to reach the drag queen water station (hosted by Rehoboth’s own Roxy Overbrooke) and laid roses along Lake Gerar to pay tribute to those lost to the virus. They then walked back through Henlopen Avenue.
The event surpassed its fundraising goal, reaching over $100,000. CAMP Rehoboth’s team raised over $1,600, with half of that returning to the CAMPsafe program, which will continue to provide essential HIV testing resources and safe sex education and promotion. ▼