Camp Wisdom UMC Donates $1000 To Kiest Tennis Center

Kiest, site of the church's Juneteenth Tennis Exhibition, was burglarized and vandalized 

Camp Wisdom UMC was inspired to help its Oak Cliff neighbor after the Kiest Tennis Center was burglarized and vandalized in early February.

The suspects damaged property and stole items such as tennis shoes, iPads and TVs. The Kiest Tennis Center, less than five miles from the church, had been broken into several times since 2020.

“We know how meaningful their tennis programs are to the community," said Rev. Lesta Anderson, pastor of Camp Wisdom UMC. "We felt heartbroken.”

It was particularly distressing, Anderson added, since Camp Wisdom holds its annual Juneteenth Tennis Exhibition at Kiest Tennis Center.

The congregation raised $1000 for the tennis center.

Craig Cole, Kiest Tennis Center's director, was grateful for the donation and humbled by Camp Wisdom’s concern and support.

“This will certainly come in handy,” to help our center recuperate, he said.

“[The donation] really shows you how well the community thinks of the center and what it provides to our youth," Anderson said. “We want Craig and the center to know we stand with them.”

Published: Wednesday, April 5, 2023