OPERATION FRIENDSHIP

OPERATION FRIENDSHIP. A local program developed to bring minority children from Chicago to Dubuque for one week during the summer, Operation Friendship was started in 1961 by Mimi Vernon. The program first welcomed six children who stayed with local parents and their children. Attempts were made to match the ages of the children from Chicago, ages 7-15, with the ages of the children in the Dubuque families. By 1979, the number of children involved reached from 40 to 50. (1)

Fighting inflation and with strong financial support, Operation Friendship in 1974 cut in half the donation it asked for transportation from families participating in the summer program. In addition to lowering the requested donation to $5.00, the organization planned a free roller skating party for children of hosts and their guests. The additional change was to increase the summer session to eight day from seven. (2)

In 1977 thirty-seven Dubuque families participated in the program that brought fifty-one minority children to Dubuque. A picnic was the only time during the week when everyone involved in the program was together at one time. In an effort to recruit new families to the program, members used a booth at KENNEDY MALL to advertise the program. Many families hosted the same child for several summers.

---

Source:

1. "Hosts Sought for Children from Chicago," Telegraph Herald, April 6, 1979, p. 9

2. "Local Group Cuts Donation," Telegraph-Herald, January 27, 1974, p. 16