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A Season of Giving
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Dec. 2, is a planned day of giving for many organizations and Barton County 4-H is a part of the Golden Belt Community Foundation’s Match Day. Barton County 4-H would like to invite you to “Pancakes for Partners” on Tuesday, December 2nd from 7 - 9 a.m. at the Barton County Extension Office, 1800 12th Street here in Great Bend. We will provide pancakes and fruit for our friends of 4-H who would like to donate to our Barton County 4-H Council Endowment Fund through the Golden Belt Community Foundation. All donations received at Pancakes for Partners will be delivered to GBCF and the funds will qualify for possible matching funds for Barton County 4-H.
Giving Tuesday is a global effort to encourage everyone to give for a cause. Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation shared, “#Giving Tuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism. The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”
Please join us on Dec. 2, and become a “Partner” in making the best better. The motto of 4-H has always been “To Make the Best Better” and we continue to do that every day. If you are unable to join us for pancakes, your donation can also be delivered to the Golden Belt Community Foundation office at 1307 Williams between 7 am and 6 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. You will be asked to fill out a form to request the funds be used to benefit the “Barton County 4-H Council Endowment fund”.
I would like to share one other thought with you during this Thanksgiving season. If you don’t have the funds to donate to the “Give Where You Live” campaign, you can still help make the world a better place. A few weeks ago during the cold spell, I was having a rather grumpy day and feeling sorry for myself that I had so much to get done. After depositing a large number of letters in the mailbox at the post office, I turned down the street and pulled over to make room for a trash truck heading my way. A young man jumped off the back of the truck and waited for me to continue down the street. As I drove by, he gave me the most genuine smile and wave that I have received in a long time! So here I am in my nice warm car frowning about my problems and here is a young person who is working in the 20 degree weather in a job that cannot be that enjoyable on some days... and he gives me a smile?   
On this day of Thanksgiving, please don’t ever think that you have nothing to give. Share your smile with someone who does not have one. Maybe you will make their day. Thank you to the young man working for the trash service. You made my day!
Berny Unruh is the 4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent in Barton County. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune.  She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@ksu.edu