The Adams County 4-H Program will kick off its countywide community service project, Give a Hand – Give a Can for Hunger, on Wednesday, March 1. The project will run through March 30. This project involves the collection of non-perishable food items, cleaning items, pet toys and food, and personal care items for Inter-Faith House in West Union. This is the third year that the 4-H Program has conducted the Give a Hand service project.
Donations from individuals are welcome, and may be placed into any of the collection barrels that will be placed around the county. Collection barrels will be located in at Prather’s IGA, Dollar Tree, Tractor Supply Company, Save-a-Lot, and the Richmond Insurance Agency, all in West Union, and the OSU Extension Office, also in West Union.
The project is being coordinated by the Liberty Farmers 4-H Club this year and is supported by the Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee as a countywide service initiative. Linda and Sam Kimmerly, club advisors, along with their members, will catalog the donations received and deliver them to the Inter-Faith House.
All of the county’s 30 4-H clubs are encouraged to collect canned goods and other items at their March meetings. If they label the items with their club identification number before turning them it, they will receive credit. The club that submits the most items will earn a pizza party, sponsored by the 4-H Advisory Committee.
All donated items must be new, unopened, and in good condition. No crushed cans or boxes or opened boxes or cleaning items will be accepted, and no expired products will be accepted.
The broad goal of the project is to provide at least 1,000 non-perishable food and pantry items to the Inter-Faith House in West Union, providing much-needed help and support for individuals throughout the county. In addition, the project will engage 4-H members, families, and the broader community in meaningful service at a time of the year when it seems the needy are often forgotten, and food pantry shelves are empty. The 4-H program anticipates that more than 50% of the county’s 4-H clubs will participate at least at some level, engaging in a friendly competition that benefits the food bank.
For more information about the Give a Hand – Give a Can for Hunger service project or about 4-H in general, visit the OSU Extension Adams County website at adams.osu.edu or contact the office at 544-2339.