By:
Ami Neiberger-Miller, (703) 404-4312Source(s):
Marilyn Norman (352) 846-0996
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Contrary to popular images of today’s youth as apathetic, Make a Difference Day found 4-H members making elderly residents of a nursing home smile, helping children who are terminally ill ride horses and sewing quilts for newborns.
More than 200 people turned out for an Equine Fun Day with 12 terminally ill children from Dreams Come True in Jacksonville. Hosted by the Westside Wranglers 4-H Club, the benefit featured pony rides, horse activity games, a fall festival and a hayride. It was part of the annual national day of giving back to the community organized by USA Today.
They weren’t the only 4-H’ers in Florida taking part in the annual day of service. The Silly Stitchers 4-H Club in Port Charlotte spent the day sewing bibs and baby quilts for new mothers.
National 4-H Council is a partner in USA Weekend Make a Difference Day, which is why so many 4-H clubs conduct service projects that day, said Marilyn Norman, state 4-H leader and assistant dean for 4-H at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Young people are a vital part of our communities, and they can be an active force in making the world better, if adults will let them.”
4-H clubs help the community throughout the year, said Norman. “Giving back to the community gives youth opportunities to take on new roles and responsibilities. These are part of essential out-of-school experiences shown to contribute to positive youth development.”
Helping others can help you appreciate what you have, said 4-H members. “Watching the kids from Dreams Come True enjoy the day made us all thankful that we are healthy and it makes you appreciate the things that you can do,” said Kara Shoemaker, 17, of Jacksonville.
Thirty 4-H club members in Ft. Myers spent the day carving pumpkins, singing and doing crafts with elderly residents at Manorcare Health Services. For Kandi Zielinski, 14, whose grandmother lives in the nursing home, project “Make Them Smile” was personally rewarding. “Seeing how much she and the other residents enjoyed having all of the kids there with them really made me happy. Our goal for the day was to make them smile, and I think it was myself and the other 4-H members who were smiling.”
Senior citizens have a lot of love to share, said Brooke Harvey, 11, of Alva. “I went to make a difference in someone’s life and Sally, the resident I met, made a difference in mine,” she said.
Founded in 1902 as an outreach to rural youth, 4-H has 60 million alumni and involves 28 percent of youth in America at some point in their K-12 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Florida 4-H is the youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, which is part of the UF/IFAS. 4-H worked with more than 287,000 youth ages 5-18 last year in Florida and has programs active in all 67 counties. For more information about Florida 4-H, visit http://www.florida4h.org. Call toll-free 1-866-4HCLUBS to volunteer.
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