Families In Crisis benefits from 4-H helping hands

Showing compassion for others, developing leadership skills and giving back to the community are just a few of the objectives accomplished by 4-H Honor Club and All Star members in Warren County. This year, during the month of December, Families In Crisis in Warren County benefits from this club’s spirit of giving through donations of toiletry items, canned goods and paper products.

Families In Crisis is a non-profit organization that provides confidential shelter for victims of domestic violence. It provides counseling, a support group, court advocacy, assistance with protection orders, food, clothing and transportation. The shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week serving the counties of Warren, Grundy, Sequatchie and Cannon.

In November, 4-H Honor Club members encouraged all countywide 4-H clubs to join them in their spirit of giving. They challenged each 4-H member to pledge their “hands to larger service” and collect items for Families In Crisis. Joining in the effort, 35 clubs from eight schools collected over 2,000 toiletry items, canned goods and paper products to be donated.

The top three 4-H clubs which collected the most items in one month received a monetary contribution for their classroom. Joyce Smith’s fourth-grade 4-H club at Bobby Ray School collected a total of 200 items from 18 students, making the club the overall county winner. Second-place honors went to Cindy Redmon’s fourth-grade class at Hickory Creek with 10 students donating 188 items. Third-place winner was Roxanne Crain’s fourth-grade class at Hickory Creek with 24 club members collecting 163 items. Winners will use the prize money to buy supplies for their classrooms.

Warren County 4-H Honor Club members organized, boxed and delivered the items to the shelter Dec. 11 and received numerous thanks and well wishes from the FIC staff for this outstanding Christmas donation.