The CPOF KIDS room hasn’t been around quite as long as PROJECT 2000, but pretty darn close.
Like CPOF, the KIDS room started from a need. CPOF had been hosting PROJECT 2000 and the annual memorial ceremony and there were a handful of children there who were honoring their lost family member. They didn’t really want to be a part of the formal seated meals, but they still wanted to be there. They shared this common thread of being there for the same reasons and wanted something else to do during the time. Camie, daugher of Char and Larry Corby, was the first to gather the children and find something to do. Mandy, the daughter of a fallen officer and PROJECT 2000 attendee that grew up in the KIDS room, took the lead after that. Since then, it’s been ran by a variety of volunteers while being over seen and organized by catastrophic coordinator Christina Labio. For the last two years, Esther Gonsalves, wife of Honor Guard Commander, Ray Gonsalves, has been managing the KIDS room during the event.
Since it’s development, the KIDS room has evolved into something planned out almost as carefully as PROJECT 2000. It is four days of planned out fun and activities that include everything from arts and crafts to video games to fieldtrips and the annual pizza and ice cream party. It also includes generous donations from Kevin Murphy and the US Deputy Warden’s Association. They gift incredibly generous bags to each of the kids whose family is being honored, curated to that particular child.
The KIDS room is possible because of the volunteers. The ones that give up the “grown-up” time and plated meals and trade it in for pizza and chicken strips and kids that do not have inside voices. They volunteer pretty much around the clock for the ones that need the most supervision. The donations by attendees, members and honor guard teams throughout the nation make the experience even more magical. But, even more than that are the visitors to the KIDS room. The honor guard teams that stop by, the board members that swing by for high-fives and hugs (and to challenge them to have even more fun), the Elsas and Moanas and Captain Americas, and simply the people who want to be there to make their time even more memorable. The magic truly comes to life because people find these kids to be important and want to be there for them.
One of the most magical parts about the KIDS room is that they come back. For four days, they realize they are not alone. They are not the only ones going through hardships. They spend that time bonding, giggling, laughing and having the best possible time. They come back year after year until they are “too old” for the KIDS room and graduate to “teen night out” and being mentors for the younger kids. The kids they can see themselves in. And then, they go to college. They apply for scholarships and the foundation stays there for them. They come back to volunteer and help and hold the hands of the younger kids that are looking for understanding and mentorship. They keep the KIDS room with them in their hearts as they go into the world and make their own marks. They stay connected through social media and emails and are bonded for life.
To all those that give their time and monetary donations to the KIDS room, we thank you.
