Community service and citizenship are hallmarks of the 4-H program! Forty-eight Hours of 4-H is a statewide service challenge. This challenge encourages 4-H clubs and families to see how many hours of community service can be completed across the state during the second weekend of National 4-H Week.
Cottonwood-Barton 4-H families took on several projects last weekend and watching their teamwork to serve others is heartwarming! A large group gathered at the Cottonwood Extension Office to bake cookies, complete with hand-drawn Thank You cards, to local police and fire departments, city offices, and our Barton County Dispatch office. From the parents who guided small helpers with rolling cookie dough or managing the hot pans to the guys who handled the dishes, it was so much fun to hear their laughter and teamwork to do something nice for others.
Another group of great volunteers gathered at the 4-H Educational Buildings to pick up trash, spread a pile of gravel, and complete several general cleanup projects! It was neat to see families jump into action to see what they could help with and how they could accomplish tasks together!
One of our 4-H project areas is Civic Engagement and, while this means learning about how our communities function and can include governmental functions, a big part of this project is learning how each youth can have an impact on their community! Helping young people understand that they can help their communities not just survive but thrive is an exciting part of this project. It reinforces that each of us have a responsibility to help our communities be better and stronger.
How can you set an example of positive community involvement or community service? Be sure you share that experience with a young person in your world
Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.
Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
