By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(July 2, 2026) A team of Ocean Pines do-gooders is once again rallying to support children in need by collecting personal supplies to help underprivileged kids enjoy a summer camp experience.

The volunteer group Ocean Pines Get Involved, founded by community resident and former member of the board of directors Esther Diller, has launched its annual Operation Flip Flop Drive in collaboration with local social services organization Worcester Gold.

Each year, Worcester Gold provides scholarships to children from lower-income households, allowing them to attend summer camp and participate in other enrichment activities while they’re off from school. OP Get Involved has contributed to that effort for about four years now by soliciting donations of camp items.

This year is no exception. Diller and her volunteer group are again asking citizens to provide goods such as flip-flops, backpacks, beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses, Chapstick, and water shoes. The items will be delivered to Worcester Gold, which will provide the supplies to its at-need summer campers.

“What Operation Flip Flop does is provide articles of things that are needed for camp,” Diller said. “Sunblock, backpacks, beach towels, Chapstick, goggles, things like that. Anything you would put in a child’s beach bag to send them to camp…We’ve had real success with it.”

Those looking to donate can drop off the products at a drop box at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Contributions will be accepted until July 10. Diller said she would deliver everything collected to Worcester Gold that morning.

Diller added that in previous years, OP Get Involved has been fortunate enough to fill the donation box to the brim. Anything not used by Worcester Gold this year is stored for use in future seasons.

“Towels, backpacks, you name it, we’ve gotten it,” she said.

Diller hopes that this weekend’s Fourth of July holiday will bring in additional donations, as more people flock to Ocean Pines and its amenity facilities, like the Yacht Club.

“That’s the good thing with it being July 4 weekend and a lot of people being in town,” Diller said. “That’s an opportunity for people to donate.”

Ocean Pines Get Involved hosts drive and outreach programs year-round. The team’s founder maintains that the group shows up every time to give back to the Ocean Pines and Worcester County communities.

“I’m a big believer in paying it forward,” Diller said. “We’ve all had tragedies and things happen in life…I really believe in the paying it forward motto. I also love that our community is so willing to help those in need, whether it’s gifts, the toy drive, or the food drive. The Get Involved group always comes in and picks it up.”