The Carthage United Way is in the midst of its 2009 fund drive. The goal is to raise $310,000 to distribute to area groups and agencies that help people.
In past issues The Carthage Press told you about the food pantries run by the Salvation Army, Crosslines and the Crisis Center.
We’ve also presented information about the American Red Cross, Camp Quality, the Family Literacy Center, Lafayette House, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City.
These are 10 of the 14 agency members of the Carthage United Way that benefit from the money raised in Carthage.
Over the next few issues, The Press will tell you about the other agencies in the United Way, leading up to the finale of the campaign at the end of this month.
In this issue, the Jasper County 4-H answers questions about its organization.
What do you do?
4-H is similar in some ways to other youth organizations, but it is also unique in that it serves youth between the ages of 5–18. 4-H is still very family oriented, providing learning opportunities and leadership experiences with the guidance of adult (often parent) volunteers. 4-H emphasizes head, heart, hands, and health. The life skills that members gain through active participation in 4-H projects and activities prepare these young people to be healthy, productive and responsible citizens.
4-H focuses on informal learning of many different projects guided by adult volunteers. Each member has up to six projects and must complete six hours of instruction in each in order to complete that project. Only completed projects are eligible for showing and awards.
Some of our largest programs are Shooting Sports, where young people safely learn how to handle, maintain, and shoot both Archery and Firearms. Their year is culminated in the State Shooting Sports Contest held each year in Columbia. Another of our largest programs is our livestock projects, where young people take all forms of livestock and learn how to care for and exhibit these animals.
Q. Who benefits from your service?
A. 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. We create environments in which young people are valued contributing members of their communities while working and learning in partnership with caring adults. We service youth ages 5 – 18.
Q. How do people access your services?
A. By contacting the Jasper County 4-H, University of Missouri Extension – Jasper County, Courthouse Basement, Carthage, MO 64836. Our phone number is 417 – 358 – 2158; on the web at http://extension.missouri.edu/jasper/ and by email mcnaryrl@missouri.edu.
Q. What does your service mean to Carthage, Jasper County residents?
A. One of every 10 Missourians between the ages of 5 and 18 participated in a Missouri 4-H program in 2008. In Jasper County, 4-H includes a community of 262 youths learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Jasper County 4-H clubs offer long-term educational experiences in which members learn life skills such as decision making, public speaking and working with others. Members learn by doing under the guidance of adult volunteers, who teach projects ranging from aerospace and arts to veterinary science and sport fishing. Clubs also involve children and teens in community service, camping and educational trips.
Ongoing participation in extracurricular activities, such as 4-H, can lead to long-term payoffs. Regardless of family background, studies find that teens who consistently participate in extracurricular activities from eighth through 12th grade are 70 percent more likely to attend college. The College Board’s Trends in Higher Education Series says that over their lifetimes, college graduates will earn an average of $2.5 million, or $1 million more than peers with high school educations.
Communities reap long-term benefits by supporting programs like 4-H. Youth engaged in the programs are 60 percent more likely to vote than their non-engaged peers. In addition, 4-H youth are more likely to volunteer and contribute to their communities than youth participating in other youth programs.
Q. What does the support from the Carthage United Way mean to your group?
A. We are an educational organization for young people from the ages of 5 – 18. Our membership is involved in a variety of educational programs. Our major basis is in clubs where members engage in a variety of projects to meet their educational objectives and career goals.
We use the United Way funding in giving opportunities to our membership to participate and attend events and activities that 4-H provides above the local level. Without United Way funding the cost of these activities might create a financial burden that would make it otherwise impossible for young people in Jasper County 4-H to attend.
The major use of United Way funding goes to regional, state and national activities, examples being State Teen Conference, State 4-H Congress, state judging and competitive events, State Youth Forum, National Congress, and 4-H Camp. These activities enable our members to become better citizens and to develop their leadership skills.
One of our community service projects is to make weighted blankets and vests for children affected by autism. Through this project members learn how to sew and when they become proficient they provide workshops in which they teach others to sew and stuff blankets. One of the most rewarding workshop experiences has been a partnership to make blankets with clients of Lafayette House, a shelter for women and children. Without United Way funding, we would not be able meet the demand for these blankets and vests.
