The Nutter Fort Golden Eagles 4-H Club has chosen “Service Learning” for their 2017-2018 club project. Since the club year began October 1, 2017, the 64 member club has collected diapers for the Clarksburg Mission; toys for CASA; cat/dog food, collars, toys and cleaning supplies for the Humane Society of Harrison County; and Toys for Tots. Ike Skidmore, club leader, had these words to share: “The 4-H Pledge includes ‘I pledge my hands to larger service for my club, my community, my country, and my world.’ The club members are learning how they can become active, caring citizens in their community by finding out what the needs of others are in their community and lending a helping hand.”

The 4-H Club’s first service learning project of 2018 was “Brown Bags for Vets”. The club learned of the program from the Harrison County Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS), and knew they could help. They learned that the “Brown Bags” program provides veterans traveling from the Clarksburg Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center to the Pittsburgh VA Hospital a small snack. These veterans are usually required to fast because of testing, and the packed bags provide them that much needed nourishment before they make the trip back home.

 

The 240 brown bags, packed by the club, contained: water, applesauce, tuna or chicken with crackers, 2 granola bars, and a handmade card thanking them for their service. Skidmore stated, “The Marie Gaston 4-H Scholarship Fund provided the water bottles and the granola bars, and I earned a volunteer grant through Pratt & Whitney (where I work) that funded the tuna/chicken and the applesauce. My son, who is a captain in the United States Air Force, was in during Christmas break and helped purchase enough of each item.” Captain Michael C. Skidmore expressed, “Through my years of being a member of the Golden Eagles we always participated in hands-on service projects. I was honored to once again lend a hand for such a worthwhile project. I know the veterans will appreciate what the club has done for them.”

 

4-H club members, Riley and Maddie Dunavant, agreed that the project was very important: “This project was very helpful and well deserved for our veterans! It was very fun to put together!”

 

The Nutter Fort Golden Eagles look forward to finding out other ways they can lend a helping hand in the community. Their next service learning project will be finding out about the services that Hope, Inc. provides, and how they might be able to help them, too.

For more information on joining 4-H in Harrison County, please contact the WVU Extension Service Harrison County Office at 304-624-8650. Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status.

 

Pictured above, working on project, from left: Krieg Pruett, Voluntary Service Assistant and Kasie McIntyre, Voluntary Service Specialist are shown with some of the 240 “Brown Bags for Vets” that the Nutter Fort Golden Eagles 4-H Club members packed at their January club meeting.

 

Also pictured: Nutter Fort Golden Eagles 4-H members working on thank you cards that will be included in “Brown Bags for Vets” traveling to Pittsburgh for medical testing. Left to right: Adam Fubio, Claire Kroll, Natalie Fubio, and Zachary Kroll; Some of the thank-you cards made by the 4-H club members.