SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – Mayor Domenic Sarno presented a $10,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the Youth Leadership Academy Summer camp, run by Sheriff Cocchi and the Sheriff’s Department. This camp is specifically important for children who have a parent incarcerated.
Vice President Kamala Harris coming to Pittsfield this weekend The camp was started six years ago with 40 kids and now this year, there are over 220 campers who come in the summer and participate in various activities and field trips, and coming up, they are visiting the zoo!
Mayor Sarno got to speak with some of the campers, “They love it. Hey Mayor we are going here, we are going to be going there, this is what I am doing, I am making friends here, I am an artist, we are going to be going on a field trip. I did ask though because they are going to be going to Lupa Zoo on one of the great field trips that they have, how many kids have seen a real-life giraffe, and to my surprise, many of them raised, that’s good, many of them raised their hand. And there are probably some instances of where they are going that they have never been before, and they are going to remember this.”
Sheriff Cocchi told 22News the goal of this camp is to create a summer full of fun, laughter, field trips, and more but most importantly putting smiles on the children’s faces. Sheriff Cocchi has also created an inclusive community at his camp. He never turns away a repeat camper. Even if their parent is no longer incarcerated, they are always welcome back.
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