CLINTON, Ill. — From Central Illinois to Australia, 4-H members in Clinton are stepping up to help wildlife injured and displaced by the wildfires that have ravaged the outback. Koalas, kangaroos, bats and other species rescued from the bushfires are being cared for by animal rescue groups who are in need of specialty supplies such as bat wraps and kangaroo joey pouches.

The Sew Cool 4-H Club is inviting area youth and their parents to join them February 14 to send some love to Australian animal rescue groups by sewing flannel items. Sewing machines and fabric will be provided and adults and children will work together under the guidance of club leader Cassandra Meyen.

“Everybody is welcome to come out and sew you don’t have to have any experience, you don’t have to have a sewing machine or supplies,” Meyen said.

The club will be meet 6 p.m. Friday, February 14 at the DeWitt County Extension Office, 8425 Katie Road, Clinton. Media welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Lindsey at (217) 935-5764 or lburden@illinois.edu.

“We’re so proud of these 4-H members for seeing a need and stepping up,” said Lindsey Burden, DeWitt County Extension Youth and Development program coordinator. “The sewing club is putting the 4-H motto of ‘learn by doing’ into practice in a way that serves others.”

The 4-H program is provided through University of Illinois Extension and is open to youth ages 8 to 18. Youth learn skills for living by participating in individual or group learning experiences related to more than 200 project areas. Find Dewitt County 4-H on Facebook.

Contact

Lindsey Burden
Program Coordinator, 4-H Youth Development
DeWitt Extension Office
8425 Katie Road, Clinton, IL 61727
(217) 935-5764
lburden@illinois.edu