OAK GROVE SHADOWS 4-H CLUB

The Oak Grove Shadows in Missouri do many community projects each year. They have a dozen families that pitch in and help. They have won the President’s Volunteer Service Award for over 1000 volunteer hours as a group for one year.

Some of their activities are collecting items to donate to the community services league at the holidays for their town, they send cards to the troops in Iraq and make Grandparent’s Day cards for the resident’s in their local nursing homes. Some members participate in National Youth Service Day. They rake yards, pull weeds, clean gutters, and etc. for those people who may need help. They also volunteered to help the Hy-Vee program make up candy bags for Santa’s visit. They have also volunteered at numerous horse events at town, county and state levels. Once such event was the Equus America in Kansas City. They help out with the elderly, kids, Girl Scouts and trash pick-up around the community. It does not stop here! Some members work at food pantries and assist church groups.

A member, Serea Watson hosts a Japanese Exchange Student, Asami Kusunoki. “I think more people should host Japanese kids because we can learn more about their culture and they can learn more about ours,” Watson said. During Asami stay with Serea’s family, she participated in 4-H club activities and family outings. She celebrated her 14th birthday with the 4-H club. The group made the Grandparents Day cards, which will be given to nursing home residents.

Shadows 4-H members joined 50 other volunteers April 17th in Independence for National Youth Service Day. Program “Helping Hands” was coordinated by Fran Daniel at the Fairmont Community Center. Volunteers were given t-shirts and went to elderly residents’ homes to rake leaves, wash windows, clean out sheds and other jobs.