Rusk County Junior Leaders Organization makes community impact

Published on by jackie.askins

Junior Leaders easter egg huntActivity: County-wide Easter Egg hunt

Group: Rusk County 4-H Junior Leaders Organization

Date of Activity: April 13, 2014

Number of people: 18 youth; 4 adults

Number of hours: 2 hours per person

The JLO youth annually host a county-wide Easter Egg Hunt for youth ages 2-12. JLO youth have to set the rules, date and location for the event. They have to create advertisements, shop for prizes, fill eggs and hide eggs. 78 local youth participated  in the 2014 Easter Egg Hunt. 62 of the youth participants were non-4-H youth.

This is a great way to interact with non-4-H families and provide them with information about joining 4-H. JLO youth also had the opportunity to work with young children.

 

Activity: Serving dinner at the Rusk County Manna MealJunior leaders serve community meal

Group: Rusk County 4-H Junior Leaders Organization

Date of Activity: July 25, 2013

Number of people: 12 youth; 6 adults

Number of hours: 4 hours per person

The Manna Meal program has been serving free monthly community dinners to area residents for over 15 years. Several service organizations take turn hosting. The JLO youth had to plan the menu, shop for groceries, cook the meal, serve the mean and clean up. The youth served 92 youth and adults  and 22 home-bound seniors who needed a meal, and the leftover food was delivered to the domestic abuse shelter.

Quotes from Junior Leaders youth who participated:

  • “I didn’t know kids were homeless too.”
  • “I knew some of the people we served. I had no idea they were struggling.”
  • “All the people we served were so grateful.”
  • “I can’t believe we could feed so many people on $150.00.”

Junior leaders paint barn at fairgroundsActivity: Upkeep at the Rusk County Fairgrounds

Group: Rusk County 4-H Junior Leaders Organization

Date of Activity: July 28, 2013

Number of people: 18 youth; 3 adults

Number of hours: 3 hours per person

For a number of years, the county budget has been declining. Therefore, many of the upkeep projects at our county fairgrounds have not been getting done. The JLO youth decided they would volunteer the supplies and their time to paint the 4-H exhibit building at the fairgrounds. Youth painted three coats of white on the building. They have future plans to paint the 4-H clover on it as well. The fairgrounds look refreshed, and many county board members commented on the project.

I believe the youth learned that a few hours of work can really make a difference. You could tell that they were really proud of the building when they finished painting it.