Youth members of the 4-H Country Club (veterinary sciences) and Feathers and Fur 4-H club (chickens and rabbits) recently united to help local shelters in need.
Normally, these two clubs teach youths about large and small livestock, but this week it was all about community service.
The clubs received donations from local businesses to put together bags for local cold night shelters. Publix donated the bags, and a local knitting club from First United Methodist Church knitted hats.
The two clubs purchased remaining items with funds they raised throughout the year. The kids packed the bags with items such as toiletries, snacks, hats and gloves, and a personal card signed by all of them. They then took the bags to Helping Hands, a Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless program.
By giving back to their communities, young people can:
•learn the value of helping others
•develop leadership, communication, organizational skills and a sense of empowerment
•learn how important the connection is between subject matter and life in the community
•learn how to cooperate with one another and work as a team with diverse groups of people including adults, peers and others with different backgrounds and experiences
•succeed in an area different from academics, athletics or popularity
•build self-esteem from the positive results of their service
•develop problem-solving and decision-making skills by applying their knowledge to real-world situations
•develop a sense of being responsible for their community and a sense that citizenship requires them to actively participate in their community
•experience the world of work
Not only do young people gain by being involved in community service; the clubs and groups that they are in also experience benefits from planning and carrying out service projects.
According to the Michigan State University Extension website, carrying out service activities can strengthen a club or group because it:
•boosts member commitment and involvement by giving members meaningful activities
•can involve families and youths in a joint activity
•fulfills the "hands to larger service" part of the 4-H pledge
•builds unity among members, allowing them to function better as a team
•allows members to get to know one another better as they work together on a common goal
•helps youths become invested in their club and community
•shows the community how youths can be resources and how they can get things done
Get youths involved in the 4-H program. If you are interested in discovering what 4-H has to offer, please contact the Okaloosa County Extension Office, 689-5850, for more information.
Misty Smith is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa 4-Hers give back to the community