Kids Put Caring Into Action By Helping Kids In Need
(Continued from Page B 2)
Uon to the 4-H Kids for Kids,
offers commonly taught projects
such as sewing, cake decorating,
air rifle, wood working, rocketry,
and cooking. The club has 32 lead
ers and 80 on-going members.
‘The club has exceptional
parent involvement,” said Martha
Gregory, 4-H extension agent for
the county. “I think it’s because the
family aspect of 4-H is emphasized
and the set expectation of parental
involvement,”
Most of these members and
adults also are members of the 4-H
Kids 4 Kids.
The impetus behind all this
activity seems to be the Bushongs
although they shy away from tak
ing the credit
‘The parents (leaders) really
give of themselves and the kids are
just amazing,” said Fran. “Leaders
mold and help the kids set goals,
but the most important part is that
they bring out the best in each kid.”
“Fran is a high eneigy volunteer
and a hard worker.” Gregory said.
“Her enthusiasm for the 4-H prog
ram helps others to see the benefits
and become involved.”
Fran said that she gets many of
her ideas for the club while milk
ing 120 cows daily. She keeps a
pen and tablet by her side during
The success of the 4-H program is due to community
Involvement. These balloons were donated by a local busi
ness for the 4-H’ers participation In the Memorial Day
Parade.
A nursing home patient hugs a llama at one of the petting
zoos held by 4-H*ers.
her chores so that she can jot down
whatever ideas come to her. It’s
during milking lime that Fran
prays, sets priorities, and receives
inspiration.
From the formation of the club,
Fran stressed the importance and
meaning of the 4-H motto. She
didn’t want the members to merely
repeat the motto by rote but think
of creative ways to put it into prac
tice. The motto refers to pledging
to use head, heart, hand, and
health. Fran emphasizes the need
to put “heart” into club projects.
She said, “This is an awesome
club to lead. The kids are so neat
They keep pushing me and think
ing up ideas.”
To raise money, club members
continue to hold petting zoos, car
washes, serve as coat checkers
during Farm-City week, hold a
rock-a-thon, and other special
events.
The benefits of holding petting
zoos are not all monetary. “We
don’t accept money from nursing
homes, but we take our animals
into them on a regular basis. When
you plop a rabbit on a table in front
of a 100-year-old who hasn’t
smiled in weeks and watch them
come alive as they touch the
rabbit—nothing can repay you
more than that,” Fran said.
The 4-H’crs were asked to hold
a petting zoo for Camp Can Do,
which is a camp held for cancer
kids. The 4-H’ers did it as a project
and refused payment, but the
American Cancer Society sent
them a $lOO check, which the
4-H’ers donated back to cancer
patients through the 4-Diamonds
Fund.
The 4-H Kids 4 Kids aren’t
always working. They like VS do
lots of family activities and hold
pizza, roller skating, and bowling
parties, and Christmas caroling at
Candy Lane held at Hershey Park.
Money for the fun things come
from doing a good job with the
assigned projects. For instance,
4-H’ers hold an annual hoagie and
cookie sale. The South Mountain
Club sold more cookies than any
other club. A portion of that money
is designated to be used for fun
projects.
Fran said, “The neat thing about
the club is that we have several
members who are handicapped.
The kids all accept each other so
well. They find a way to communi
cate to the deaf child. They take the
time to push a wheelchair and help
a slower child.
“I hope and pray my grandchil
dren will become members of
4-H,” said Fran, who is pleased
that her own children. Matt, Mela
nie, and Michele serve as leaders
after returning from college.
“Kids involved in 4-H projects
build memories, self-esteem, culti
vate relations, and learn to use
their best to make things better,”
Fran said.
“While they arc helping others,
they are also helping themselves.
If we can make a difference in one
child’s life by keeping them off the
streets, then it’s worth it,” Fran
said of the hours of work put into
the program.
This past year, North Mountain
4-H was pleased to have won both
scrapbook and community service
awards.
‘The club has done a good job of
prioritizing community service as
a focus for their community club,”
Members of the North Mountain 4-H Community Club also participate in projects
such as this Project Pals, which teaches pet care.
HOMESTEA
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 23, 1996-BS
After two years of chemotherapy for leukemia, 14-year
old Teresa, left, lives a normal teen-ager’s life. The family
has never forgotten how 4-H’ers raised $l,OOO so that Tere
sa could purchase a computer to help with her schooling.
Now the whole family is Involved In 4-H. Her mother, Anne,
teaches cooking; her dad Edward teaches small engine?,
and Teresa and her brother Edward participate In many of
the 4-H projects.
Gregory said. “The club sets an
example for other clubs.”
While the North Mountain Club
is filled to capacity, Lebanon
County has 27 clubs, which eager
ly accept volunteers and members.
For more information, call Gre
gory at the extension office (717)
270-4391 or call your county Penn
State Cooperative Extension
Office for information on 4-H.
Michelle Blauch rocks the
night away. Through the
Rock-a-Thon, club members
raised $1,500 to help kids In
need.