SAN ANTONIO – Officials of the San Antonio Food Bank and Morgan’s Wonderland Camp today announced a unique partnership in which the Food Bank will be in charge of all food and nutrition aspects at the ultra-accessible™ camp complex that will offer a summer-camp-like experience to those with and without special needs.
Located on 102 acres near the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, Morgan’s Wonderland Camp is projected for completion in the latter half of 2020. The San Antonio Food Bank will pay Morgan’s Wonderland Camp $1 a year to use a4,000-square-foot kitchen, part of the camp’s 25,000-square-foot dining facility and welcome center, and Morgan’s Wonderland Camp will pay the Food Bank to provide meals for campers. The kitchen also will be used to prepare meals for Food Bank clients in the community.
“We currently operate three community kitchens that offer job training while also nourishing our community through the Meals on Wheels program,” said Eric Cooper, Food Bank president and CEO. “These kitchens are located at Food Bank headquarters near Kelly USA on the southwest side, at Haven for Hope near downtown San Antonio and in New Braunfels.
“Our newest community kitchen at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp will help us serve individuals in the northern reaches of San Antonio who need food assistance. In addition, the camp location will serve as another bulk food distribution center for area food pantries. We’re truly excited about this expansion and collaboration with Morgan’s Wonderland Camp because it can significantly expand our reach.”
Gordon Hartman, president of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation and creator of facilities to help those with special needs such as award-winning Morgan’s Wonderland theme park, said the arrangement with the Food Bank is the proverbial win-win situation. “The Food Bank can grow its mission of feeding individuals in our community as well as prepare nutritious meals for our campers and staff,” Hartman said. “This is a partnership that can accomplish so much good year-round for countless people.”
Cabins now under construction at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp will be able to accommodate at one time up to 525 campers of all ages and abilities along with staff for day, weekend or week-long camp sessions. Activities will include ultra-accessible™ ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, archery, cycling, swimming and much more. Valero Energy has assumed the role of founding partner and has generously contributed $15 million to the project.
“Projects like Morgan’s Wonderland Camp are all about inclusion, bringing together those with and without special needs in safe, colorful, non-judgmental, barrier-free environments where the common denominator of play leads to acceptance and understanding,” Hartman added.
Non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland, which is completely wheelchair-accessible, is the world’s first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment. Featuring more than 25 attractions including rides, playscapes and gardens, the park recently qualified for TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame. It will offer “A Wonderland Christmas,” special entertainment on select evenings from Nov. 29 through Dec. 23.
For more information, visit www.MorgansWonderland.com. Morgan’s Wonderland islocated in Northeast San Antonio at 5223 David Edwards Drive,a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive.
The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to mover 500 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security. For more information, visit www.safoodbank.org, or find the Food Bank in social media @safoodbank.
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