Nancy Lambert: Saline 4-H donates birthday bags to food pantry

The third 'H' in 4-H stands for "hands to larger service." And Saline County 4-H members, adult volunteers, families, and HEA groups did just that ... put their hands to larger service to donate items for their first Birthday Bag collection.

The Saline County 4-H Federation discussed this community service project at their February meeting. We decided to collect birthday party items - cake mix, frosting, party plates and napkins, candles, decorations, etc. at the Saline County 4-H Rally in March.

Food pantries often lack items for a birthday celebration, and families in need may not be able to provide the extra things necessary for a birthday party. We wanted to help. Thanks to the generosity of our members, families and friends, we were able to put together 35 Birthday Bags, which were donated to the 4C's Food Pantry. We consider this a great start and hope to increase this number next year.

Thank you to everyone who donated toward our Birthday Bag community service project. We appreciate you!

National Volunteer Week: Help Celebrate the 4-H Volunteers in Your Life!

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week, and University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development wants to thank the more than 12,000 4-H adult and youth volunteers who guide and support the nearly 200,000 4-H participants in Illinois.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. By working together, communities can meet challenges and accomplish goals.

Illinois 4-H volunteers are empowering and preparing youth for success as 4-H members provide service to others and their community. Today's 4-H youth are engaged in learning activities as they are practicing skills employers want; growing and distributing food to communities in need; stewarding the natural resources; making a difference in local, state, national, and global issues; and influencing positive choices for healthy living. None of that would be possible without our volunteers.

In Saline County, there are 70 active volunteers who are inspiring youth involved in county and local 4-H Club programs. 4-H Clubs and their leaders include: Clover Explorers - leader Cindy Jean, Country Clovers - leaders Tim and Eliza Arnold, Farmin' Friends - leaders Kim and Craig Huelsmann, H2H - leader Samantha Parish, Lads & Lassies - leaders James and Jeanette Bond, Pioneers - leaders Mary and Kevin Wilson, and Pleasant Valley Go-Getters - leaders Dan and Nancy Evans.