It is best described as magic. When the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp is in need someone always seems to step up to answer that need.

Camp Director Dave Sherman explained to Sheriff Ron Spike, Chairman of the Sheriffs’ Institute Board of Directors, that the camp program desperately needed a truck that was powerful enough to move boats and support the needs of running a large camp operation. Sheriff Spike sent the word out through network of the Sheriffs’ Camp friends of the camp’s need. It only took a few days until the Sheriffs’ Camp magic appeared.

Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum of Ulster County had reached out to the Church Community Foundation, who has strongly supported the camp with both counselors and tangible donations. Within days, Ian Winter of the Church Communities Foundation called Sheriff VanBlarcum to say they had purchased a truck for the camp that met Director Sherman’s specification.

Sheriff VanBlarcum, on a snowy December day, drove the newly donated truck to the Sheriffs’ Institute’s Offices in Albany. From here, Sheriff Phil Povero of Ontario County, who was in town too as an instructor at the Sheriffs’ Association New Sheriffs’ School, drove the truck to Penn Yan and it’s new home at the Sheriffs’ Camp. Sheriff Povero spoke highly of the truck’s ability to drive through a blinding blizzard.

Ulster County Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum arrives in Albany with the Sheriff Camp’s newly donated Ford F250.