2013 August PASO Magazine

EDUCATION & YOUTH
Booker shines in debut at Operation Purple Camp
Donna Pettit and her therapy
dog, Booker, specifically a R.E.A.D.
(Reading Education Assistance
Dog), are very busy putting smiles
on faces in the area and recently
for the children involved in the
Operation Purple program at
Camp Whittier near Lake Cachuma
(Santa Barbara area).
More about Booker later....but
first a little background on the National
Military Family Association
and Operation Purple Camp.
Military families often serve without
asking for anything in return. But
as needs arise, programs are required
to address them. Based on what they
have heard from the public, they have
created several programs of their own
to sustain military families.
The military spouse scholarship
program recognizes the importance
of military spouse education and
the difficulties that come with
achieving higher education due
to moves and expenses. Each year,
hundreds of military spouses receive
a scholarship to help them on the
path to a successful career.
In the 2004 Operation Purple®
pilot season, the National Military
Booker entertains Operations Purple campers,
left, and hams it up for the TV crew, right.
Family Association started with
12 camp locations serving close
to 1,000 children. Since then the
program has grown and expanded
and by summer’s end nearly 45,000
military children and teens will have
been served. The Operation Purple
program also includes camps for
teens, family retreats at the
national parks, and camps
geared to address the needs
of children and families
of our nations wounded
service members.
Booker arrives
Who knew that therapy
dogs could provide unique
and heartwarming experiences for
adults and children alike?
ODYSSEY World Café
A Local Favorite for 16 Years!
“Cozy, Casual & Comfortable”
Check out our
Try our “Killer”
Fish Tacos!
Menu Board Webcam
for Daily Soups and Specials
www.odysseyworldcafe.com
Open Everyday - All Day From 11am Until 8:30pm Until 9 on Friday & Saturday
1214 Pine Street Paso Robles 237-7516
PREGNANT? Need help?
• Free Pregnancy Tests
• Free Ultrasound
• Options Counseling
• Free practical items: Maternity
clothes, Baby clothes, Diapers.
~ CARING AND CONFIDENTIAL ~
ALL SERVICES ARE FREE
CALL: 805-461-3405
Tree of Life
Pregnancy Support Center
7730 Morro Rd.
suite 106
Atascadero, CA
93422
“On Thursday July 11, Booker
and I drove to Camp Whittier to
work a two-hour shift at Operation
Purple Camp,” said Donna
Pettit. “There were 109
children of military deployed
parents enjoying
a week of free camping
experiences to help them
deal with the unique issues
that military families
face. The motto of the
camp is that kids serve too by being
supportive family members. One of
Donna Pettit with Booker
the camp requirements is that each
child bring a picture of his/her deployed
parent to share with other
campers. These pictures are then
mounted on a Wall of
Honor for all to enjoy.
Operation Purple Camp
was started in 2004 by
the National Military
Family Association and
has served over 30,000
kids to date. This summer
there are 14 camps
throughout the United
States.”
Through Pet Partners,
Booker was recruited
by Amy McCullough,
National Director of Animal
Assisted Therapy for the American
Humane Association. “Booker
loved meeting all the kids - many
of them decorated with camouflage
face paint and posing for countless
pictures,” said Pettit. “After observing
Booker’s interaction with the
campers, Amy asked me if an onsite
film crew could use Booker to
film a documentary about OPC
Please see BOOKER page 22
20 Paso Robles Magazine, August 2013