Part of the 4-H pledge is “Hands through larger service” – a commitment to make our communities a better place to live. In 4-H, that means giving back to your town through community service! All 4-H members are encouraged to do community service projects, but it is not required. Find a need in your community and come up with a creative solution for how you can help!
How to find a project or person in your community that needs help:
- Ask club members and families if they know of something
- Ask other community groups
- Talk with community officials
- Find out what types of projects have and have no been done recently
- Ask your county extension office
Helping out in your community can be big or small. Be creative! It may be as simple as setting up tables at your local county fair auction or making birthday cards for the elderly! Set up a marathon to raise money for a cause, organize a coat drive and donate coats to a homeless shelter…the possibilities are endless!
OneDay 4-H
One Day 4-H is a one day event for all 4-H members, parents, leaders, and volunteers to say “thank you for supporting 4-H” by giving back to their communities. This day of community service is whatever each 4-H members, club, or county 4-H Program wants it to be. It could be as simple as picking up trash and mowing the lawn for senior citizens to elaborate as hosting a 5K Walk/Run and raising money for a cause. Visit the Oneday 4-H webpage for more information.
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
If you’ve made a difference through volunteering over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C. next May by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and NASSP, have honored nearly 100,000 middle and high school students at the local, state, and national level over the past 16 years solely for their volunteer work. Visit the website for more information.