OREGON, Ill.— “Hands to larger service” is one of the four H’s that 4-H members strive to live by. Members give back to their communities in many ways, and sometimes those ideas grow into one big project.
Last fall, three different ideas were presented to the 4-H staff that led to one large collaborative effort. 4-H member Lydia Sherburne wanted to collect stuffed animals, coloring books, blankets, and more for pediatric patients at Serenity Hospice & Home. At the same time, the Harbaugh family and their 4-H club, the Hub Hickory Nuts, wanted to partner with OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon to create homemade sewn, crocheted, or tied blankets for various departments. Additionally, food accessibility was a major concern as the holiday season approached.
These three efforts came together as the 4-H Cares Project, giving members across the county an opportunity to participate. All twelve 4-H clubs sewed, tied, and collected donations.
Nearly $500 was donated to local food pantries for Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with turkeys, hams, holiday meal fixings, and other food items for seven food pantries in Ogle County. In total, more than 500 items were donated, including 30 hams and turkeys.
4-H members also donated 25 stuffed animals, 20 tied blankets to Serenity Hospice & Home.
In addition, 25 tied blankets, 33 crocheted baby hats, 17 baby quilts, and 51 handmade sewn stuffed animals were donated to OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center for the Pediatrics Department, Emergency Department, OB, and ambulance services. Nearly 50 sets of coloring books, crayons, and markers were also donated to the Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center in Dixon.
Through the 4-H Cares Project, members demonstrated the true meaning of service, compassion, and leadership while making a lasting impact across Ogle County. The Ogle County 4-H program is proud of the dedication shown by its members, volunteers, and families, and grateful for the strong community partnerships that helped make this effort possible. Together, these acts of kindness continue to show how small ideas can grow into meaningful change for neighbors in need.
For more information about 4-H, please contact the Ogle County Extension Office at 815-732-2191 or go to the Extension website at go.illinois.edu/bdo.
PHOTO: 4-H members donated 25 stuffed animals and 10 bags of goodies (puzzles, word books, fidget toys, and more) as well as 20 tied blankets to Serenity Hospice & Home.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.