At the start of every 4-H meeting, youth and volunteers recite the 4-H pledge to help create a sense of belonging. Not only that, but reciting the 4-H pledge is making a commitment to the four H’s (Head, Heart, Hands and Health) and helps members commit to something bigger than themselves. The 2021 4-H Junior Leader officer team understands committing to something bigger than themselves and were able to give back to their community in a big way.
On behalf of the Montgomery County 4-H Junior Leaders, Junior Leader secretary, Morgan Swick, wrote and presented to Youth as Resources for a $500 grant to purchase food items to donate to our local FISH Food Pantry. Thanks to Youth as Resources, the 4-H Junior Leaders were awarded this grant and were able to donate 809 pounds of food to FISH Food Pantry.
Local food pantries have reported seeing a drastic increase in the amount of people receiving food due to the pandemic. Our local FISH Food Pantry has at times seen a 50% increase in the amount of people served. Therefore, 4-H members wanted to help in any way they could. With this grant money, eight of the Junior Leader officers went food shopping to help re-stock FISH Food Pantry.
While there are so many needs not only in our local community but globally, these 4-H Junior Leader officers identified one way that they could commit to something bigger than themselves. They put others needs before their own and embodied the 4-H pledge and all it stands for. This is the heart of the 4-H program.
4-H enrollment is still open. Visit https://v2.4honline.com to enroll. The cost for Mini 4-H (youth currently in grades K-2nd) is free and the cost for regular 4-H (youth currently in grades third-12th) is $15/child. If you have any questions about 4-H or want more information about programs offered, contact the Purdue Extension-Montgomery County office at 765-364-6363 or email asweet@purdue.edu.
Abby Morgan is the Montgomery County Extension Education, 4-H Youth Development Educator. The office is at 400 Parke Ave., Crawfordsville; 765-364-6363. She may be reached by email at asweet@purdue.edu.
