News Release Distributed 11/30/11
Louisiana 4-H will conduct its first Day of Service on Sat., Dec. 3, to show that one day can make a difference in the life of an individual, a community and a state.
Each participating 4-H Club and parish is selecting a project based on local community needs, including animals, disaster, education and literacy, the elderly, environment, health, homelessness, hunger, military and safety, according to Janet Fox, associate head of the LSU AgCenter 4-H Youth Development department.
Texas held a similar event two years ago, Fox said. The state 4-H Citizenship Board, which has 24 members, is sponsoring the event.
4-H member Shelbilyn Mott, of Tangipahoa Parish, said the parish will have an animal show in Ponchatoula from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. People are invited to bring dogs and cats to compete in greatest dress and funniest dress for prizes. The entry fee is supplies for local animal shelters.
Word Lindsey, a LaSalle Parish 4-H member who attends Jena High School, will volunteer at Corley Miniature Acres, a miniature farm.
“Learning how to serve goes right to the heart of valuable life lessons,” said Gwen Fontenot, LSU AgCenter agent in Natchitoches Parish. “Whether it's teaching younger children to care for the environment, creating a wildlife habitat for the community, restoring and beautifying a city park that has succumbed to neglect, caring for a prized animal or packing food baskets for a local food bank, 4-H'ers' hands are involved in serving.”
Natchitoches 4-H members were asked to donate to the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club’s Coats for Kids drive. Because the Natchitoches Christmas Festival is Dec. 3 and 100,000 tourists will converge on the town, the project was done ahead of time.
Youth collected more than 150 new and used jackets, which will be delivered to the local Boys and Girls Club to be distributed.
“We were overwhelmed when we received the news that 4-H had collected so many coats,” said Jennifer Sheffield, Coats for Kids co-chair.
Through service, 4-H members learn marketable skills, responsibility, commitment, teamwork and leadership.
“They experience the satisfaction of a job well done, the self esteem that comes from knowing they made a difference, the flush of pride in reviewing a finished project and the warm feeling of camaraderie that comes from working as a team,” Fontenot said. “These are positive experiences and lessons for life.”
Mary Ann Van Osdell