After a hurricane, it can be challenging for Florida 4-H youth to rebuild their damaged or destroyed projects. Chicken coops get blown away. Hog pens collapse. Bee colonies get flooded.
To help participants fix these problems, Florida 4-H is offering up to $400 4-H Serves grants to youth affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, or other natural disasters, said Caylin Hilton, director of development and external relations for the Florida 4-H Foundation. These grants are made possible through donations to the foundation.
“We have members and families across the state whose homes and 4-H projects have been decimated by these storms,” she said. “We have members, clubs and volunteers who have lost animals, entire bee colonies, barns and coops, feed and other project supplies.”
In addition to restoring damaged 4-H projects and with the leadership of the state’s 4-H teen leadership council, the 4-H Serves Florida project also collected critical items to support families and communities impacted by the recent hurricanes, including non-perishable food, water, hygiene products and cleaning supplies like gloves, masks, bleach and trash bags.
Items were collected at Extension offices across the state, and delivered to impacted communities, especially in the Big Bend and Tampa Bay region.
Members, clubs and counties impacted by natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton can apply online for a $400 grant. Projects must be educational and for the benefit of enrolled Florida 4-H members. To apply, please visit tinyurl.com/4Hservesapp.
These grants are funded by donations to the foundation, which serves the entire state. Contributions to this fund are welcome and can be made online at tinyurl.com/4Hserves. Checks payable to Florida 4-H Foundation may be mailed to P.O. Box 110225, Gainesville, FL 32611.
Burke Foster, Florida 4-H State Council officer, said Florida 4-H reminds people about our individual and collective responsibility to our communities.
“Through the 4-H Serves project I hope we can make a positive impact on our state and show that with a little cooperation, great things can happen,” he said.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ABOUT FLORIDA 4-H
4-H is the youth development program of the land-grant university system and Cooperative Extension System. The program provides hands-on educational programs and experiences for youth ages 5 to 18 with the objective of developing youth as individuals, and as responsible and productive citizens. In Florida, 4-H is administered by University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University.
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