Extension Corner: 4-H clubs deliver holiday cheer; community service a year-round effort

Arkansas 4-H members learn early on the value of service to their communities. During the holidays, their efforts shine especially bright.
Across the state, 4-H members are finding creative ways to spread holiday cheer.
In Mena, Christmas came early for 68 senior citizens through Polk County Extension’s Santas for Seniors project. About 20 Polk County 4-H members and volunteers delivered food and gifts last week to nursing home residents and elderly individuals in need.
“I love doing community service because I get to help people, and I get to have fun with friends,” said Kylee Horn, 10, who was busily packing food bags for assisted living residents at PeachTree Mena.
The Polk County extension office, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has hosted the countywide project since 2012. Over the past month, dozens of Polk County residents stopped by the extension office to pick up paper Santas, each of which listed a recipient’s age, gender and wish list. Purchased gifts were returned to the extension office for delivery. The recipients — mainly older individuals who lack family — had modest requests, including clothing, blankets, socks and slippers, pajamas, tissues, snacks and heaters. One recipient asked for a Keurig coffee maker, while another requested a cell phone. Both had their wishes fulfilled.
“Their wish list is not a guarantee, but many folks who shop will get those higher-priced items,” said Polk County 4-H agent Claire Williamson, who coordinates the project. “Many of the residents were nominated and have no idea they’re getting anything. We’ll be delivering to all four corners of Polk County.”
Some recipients also received lap quilts made by Polk County’s Happiness Quilt Guild, and all received Crossword and word search books donated by Polk County Farm Credit. All recipients also received a food pack with canned chicken, pasta and spaghetti sauce, rice mixes, canned vegetables and chili, macaroni and cheese, chocolate chip cookie mix, dried milk, peanut butter and fruit cocktail.
Clark County hosts a similar Santa for Seniors project, and 4-H members delivered gifts on Dec. 16 to 42 nursing home residents.
Arkansas 4-H, the youth leadership development program of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, engages young people ages 5-19 in leadership, life skills and community service. Its programs are grounded in the belief that youth learn best by doing. 

“Our 4-H clubs are committed to service in their communities year-round,” said Debbie Nistler, head of 4-H and Youth Development for the Division of Agriculture. “The holidays give us extra opportunities to serve our communities.”
In White County, 26 4-H teen leaders collected non-perishables and personal hygiene items for blessing boxes to be distributed across the county. As part of their community service scavenger hunt challenge, they also engaged in random acts of kindness, including picking up trash in parking lots, caroling to strangers, handing out Christmas cards to store workers, and holding doors for the elderly.
4-H members in Hempstead County hosted a pajama drive, collecting 54 pairs of gender-neutral pajamas in various sizes for The Call for Hempstead and Nevada counties, part of a statewide nonprofit organization that assists foster children and their families.
“The Teen Leaders chose this project as part of Arkansas 4-H's yearlong service project initiative, ‘Foster the Love,’” Hempstead County 4-H agent Betty Wingfield said.
In northeastern Arkansas, 4-H members in Randolph County baked sugar cookies and decorated them with nursing home residents.
“They handled everything from baking the cookies and making the icing to helping the residents decorate,” Randolph County 4-H agent Brittany Luttrell said. “It's honestly amazing to see the relationships form between the youth and elderly in such a short amount of time. We were there a little over an hour, and the residents loved the 4-Hers being there. By the end of our time, both the elderly and youth were covered in icing!”
In Grant County, the 4-H Club members put their creative and culinary skills to work. Last month, they cooked and served a Thanksgiving meal at a senior center. This month, they decorated residents’ doors in an assisted living facility.
“It’s heartening to see our 4-H members developing leadership skills through community service, especially during the holidays,” said John D. Anderson, senior associate vice president for the Division of Agriculture and director of the Cooperative Extension Service. “Our county extension agents do an exceptional job of knowing about needs in their communities and helping our youth engage in service. It’s wonderful for those being served, and it’s equally beneficial for our young people to feel connected and know they can make a difference.”