The holidays are a busy and exciting time of the year for everyone. This year, more than any, stress and uncertainty affected many families as they prepared for the holiday season. 4H believes it is important to give back when possible, and spread cheer to those that may need extra support.
A 4-H volunteer brought up the idea of adopting a family during a recent 4-H Steering Committee meeting, and the 4-H team brainstormed from there. 4-H recently established a UNITY (Urban Neighborhoods Improved Through Youth) group with Agape Haven of Abundance. Reaching out to the head of Agape, 4-H gathered a list of 28 youth and five families from the UNITY group that could use extra support during the holidays.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors and staff, 4-H clubs, and volunteers filled buckets to the brim with toys, games, puzzles, and various other items. Family buckets were filled with toiletries, hygiene products, and various other home supplies.
Once filled and organized, the buckets were delivered to Agape Haven of Abundance and distributed to the youth. Agape founder, Julia Polidore, expressed her gratitude for the generosity shown, and said, “The children were so astonished to see what they received from 4-H. I know this Christmas will be one of the best Christmases they have ever had.”
The 4-H team is grateful to all who participated, including Runnings of Brockport which supplied the buckets.
The Monroe County 4-H Program is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. Learn more at http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development.
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