Freeport, IL – Stephenson County 4-H Ambassadors held a Food Drive in Stephenson County to help fight hunger in their own communities. This community service project was created by youth who saw an immediate need right in their own backyards. In a season where food prices are rapidly increasing, the 4-H Ambassadors were looking to help make a difference by giving and sharing with those in need.
“From the time we started planning this community service project in the spring all the way to delivering the proceeds to food pantries this summer, the excitement, and willingness to help others was always at the forefront of the youths' efforts,” says Brenda Heimann, Stephenson County 4-H Program Coordinator. “The Ambassadors encouraged their 4-H clubs to get involved in this service project and made it a contest, which brought about a “friendly” competition among their friends.”
The 4-H Ambassadors made a flyer and passed it out to their clubs, and family members, and some even put them up in businesses to help get the word out. They started collecting items April 1 and ended collecting on July 29 at the Stephenson County Fair in their 4-H building. 1200 items were collected in total and delivered to Freeport Area Church Cooperative, Davis Food Pantry, German Valley Food Pantry, Lena-Winslow Food Pantry, Lena Veteran’s Food Pantry, and Pearl City Food Pantry.
“This service project brought a group of fourteen youths together for a cause that they see affecting their own communities daily. By getting involved and trying to help ease the problem, the youth gained, leadership, communication, problem-solving, and empathy skills,” says Heimann.
During the deliveries to the food pantries, the youth learned more about how the food pantries operate and what it takes to keep them going. “Seeing the smiles on the people's faces when we walked in with the boxes of food was exciting,” says Rhayanna Cotter of the German Valley Golden Eagles 4-H Club.
If you would like to learn more about 4-H or the Ambassador program, please call our Stephenson County Extension office at 815-235-4125 or check out our website at: web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.