CAMP GAVE HOMELESS MOM A WAY TO BE USEFUL.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

Cindy Chandler wears two badges around her neck.

She received the first one in 1994, as a visitor to Camp Project Hope. Back then, she was reluctant. She thought she and her children would probably get some new clothes and a few blankets and then it was back to where they came from.

Four days later, when the bus was about to take her out of camp, her children were sad to leave and so was she.

``When we came to camp for the first time, everyone was like, Hey, how are you?'' Chandler recalled. ``I used to go into grocery stores and people never would look me in the eye. It's as if they knew we were homeless. But here, they looked at us. My kids and I kept saying, Wouldn't it be great if we could just live here?''

Sad about leaving, Chandler's 10-year-old daughter, Ashley, began telling actress Sharon Stone, who was at the camp that day, about the kind of life she and her mom and brother were returning to.

The volunteers at Project Hope looked deeper into Chandler's eyes than she could imagine.

Stone and her sister, Kelly Stone, hired Chandler to help the nonprofit organization Planet Hope organize future camps.

That's where the second badge comes in.

No longer a paid employee, Chandler now wears her volunteer badge proudly as she guided more than 37 moms who are either homeless or making their way out of abusive relationships into a flurry of activities, from arts and crafts and workshops to a day at the spa.

Across camp, more than 140 children were separated into groups by age. Homeless teens participated in an arts project. Boys ages 12 to 14 got to learn how to ascend a rock-climbing wall.

Girls got to go swimming. Later on, there would be dancing, live music, and singalongs.

Founded 10 years ago by the Stone sisters, Planet Hope offers women and their children a retreat from shelters and street life.

Through donations from the Wilbur May and Iacocca foundations, as well as famous clothing designers and large corporations, children receive new outfits for the school year, and their mothers receive some tender loving care and self-esteem, enough to lead them to jobs and homesof their own, said co-founder Kelly Stone.

Kelly Stone began the project after suffering injuries from a serious car crash. She was in a wheelchair, and Sharon persuaded her to attend a similar camp. That's where she became inspired to help others. ``Every year, this camp grows more,'' Kelly Stone said. ``It's really special what we do here. It's kind of amazing.''

Chandler said her life has changed dramatically. Her daughter Ashley, now 19, is a volunteer and attends to teen girls. She is also enrolled in college. Chandler's son, Sean, 14, also is a volunteer.

``I came back because I want to tell those kids, I was where you are now,'' Ashley said. ``I want to tell them, you can do anything. Here, you are a real person.''

Chandler said when she and her children come back each year to volunteer, they receive something that had been missing from their lives for so long.

``We equate it with coming home for the holidays,'' Chandler said.

Planet Hope is seeking donations, especially new clothing and shoes for teens and linens for homes. More information can be found at www.planethope.org.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kelly Stone plays with children at Camp Planet Hope in Malibu, which she founded 10 years ago with her sister, actress Sharon Stone. The camp aims to offer women and their children a retreat from shelters and life on the streets.

(2) Angela Reed and her daughter, Jaimie Jackson, 10, enjoy a ride together at Camp Planet Hope on Sunday.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer