LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2020 LOCALadk Magazine 47 LOCALadk Instructors of America instructors and members of the Na- tional Ski Patrol. Those interested in volunteering can sign up in the fall and learn how to become an instructor to help provide lessons for kids 6-16 in a 1:1 ratio setting. Volunteers can also sign up for the popular Family Sleepover Weekends, and work as a Lodge Host or Family Pal in the comfortable Raccoon Lodge, where skiers and their families can kick back and relax after a day on the slopes. But the "COVID cur veball," as Max calls it, caused the tra- ditional on-site winter program for 2020 -21 to be cancelled. In March of 2020, he made the difficult decision to shut down all in-person activities for spring and summer. "There were three areas that needed to be considered: the medical risk factors for all involved, the operational impact on the orga- nization, and the reputational risk to the organization." From a purely medical risk standpoint, there was no way to run in-person programs for these ver y sick children. As to the operational impact on the organization, Max talks about re- ceiving phone calls from Albany Med's doctors in the spring concerned that they couldn't commit to the summer because of the high demand that COVID was placing on all medical personnel at the hospital. Pivoting was part of the solution to continue bringing programs to kids and families, and the platform Jigsaw was used for virtual and alternative offerings in the spring and summer, ser ving 650 family members. Camper care packages (known as Bear Hug Deliveries) included arts and crafts activities and camp keepsakes. The packages were de- livered to children's homes by more than 50 counselors, and five-day rounds of camp began bringing together kids and counselors over the virtual space, giving them a sense of be- longing. Camp@HHome included 56 new campers who joined in on campfires, talent shows and Wishboat ceremonies from their homes. Getting kids and families back to Double H was also ver y important, and the Fall Drive-thru at the Ranch was enjoyed by 140 families who came up to Lake Luzerne, stopped at various stations at camp, and saw old friends. Going virtual meant that the popular Gala at the Great Es- cape was now online as well. An important part of the fund- raising plan, there were concerns about making the stated goal of $200,000. Incredibly, $800,000 was raised, proving once again the tremendous commitment to Double H from all who care about it—the families who are beneficiaries of it programs, the vast medical community that supports it, the local community that volunteers so much of its time and re- sources, and the many companies and their employees who give generously in so many ways to help this life-affirming organization do all that it does. Corporate involvement and generosity is a force at Double H. In addition to many kinds of financial support, you'll find employees of Price Chopper/Market 32, Warren County Re- altors, Key Bank and Ayco, helping families on registration days. Upstate Chevy Dealerships—including DePaula Chev- rolet, Whiteman Chevrolet, New Countr y, and Della Auto Group —regularly donate multiple vehicles to transport chil- dren and families from hospitals, while Fingerpaint provides pro bono communications ser vices, Gala support, and multi- ple community workdays. Ir ving Tissue has done work on the Pavilion and the Whitney Chapel, and DeCrescente Distribut- ing donates for multiple events. As you walk through several buildings on campus, you'll notice the handiwork of Schluter Systems, which gave 15,000 square feet of product and the master tilers to install all of it, and also the work of Bette & Cring in the Raccoon Cabin. You'll see projects completed by the Lake George Master Gardeners, Hadley-Luzerne Lions Club, and the Saratoga Highway Superintendents. The list of those who are part of the magic of Double H is 1,500 -1,700 volunteers long ever y year, hailing from local schools, colleges, and multiple orga-

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