4-H members pledge ‘hands for larger service’
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. Families In Crisis benefited from this club spirit of giving through recent donations of toiletry items, canned goods and paper products.
FIC is a non-profit organization that provides confidential shelter for victims of domestic violence. The shelter offers counseling, a support group, court advocacy, assistance with protection orders, food, clothing and transportation. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the counties of Warren, Grundy and Sequatchie.
The 4-H Honor Club members encouraged all 4-H clubs countywide to join them in their spirit of giving. Beginning in November 2003, they challenged each 4-H member to pledge their “hands for larger service” and collect items for Families In Crisis. There were 43 clubs from eight schools who joined in the effort with the Honor Club and gathered over 3,000 toiletry items, school supplies and paper products to be donated. Then, Honor Club members organized, boxed and delivered the items to the site.
Three 4-H clubs collecting the most items in one month received a monetary contribution for their classroom. Deanna Smith’s fourth-grade 4-H club at Hickory Creek Elementary amassed a total of 451 items from 22 students, making them the overall county winner. Second-place honors went to Barbara Hancock’s fourth-grade class at Centertown School with 19 students donating 330 items. Placing third was Kim Cantrell’s fifth-grade class at Eastside School with 25 club members contributing 311 items for Families In Crisis. Winners plan to utilize the prize money for classroom supplies.
“Families In Crisis is so proud to be recipient of the wonderful generosity of the Warren County 4-H Clubs,” said Tammie Gribble, FIC director. “It impresses our staff so much when the youth of the community become so involved with our program. We feel that the future of our program and the services we provide for the community depends on the support of groups like the 4-H Club. Warren County 4-H members are a great bunch of kids who do service projects for many organizations in our county.
“Families In Crisis again says thanks to all 4-H Clubs for everything they do for our organization.” Gribble concluded.