By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
When Wood County 4-H members recite the 4-H pledge, they understand the importance of the four H’s: head, heart, hands and health.
Approximately 600 people who receive meals delivered from the Wood County Committee on Aging were given a lesson from the hearts and hands of local 4-H members this week.
On Wednesday, Senior Smiles, a joint project between Wood County 4-H and the Committee on Aging, provided bags of handmade, heart-inspired goodies along with their daily delivered meals.
Painted rocks, paper plate dreamcatchers and nature weavings were tucked into the paper bags, often with notes of support and encouragement.
There were some cute duct tape wallets, trivets and coasters, said Angie Bradford, director of food service for Wood County Committee on Aging, who enjoys seeing the creativity of the 4-H youths.
She has already received thank-you notes from some of the seniors that will be collected and delivered to the 4-H office in a couple of weeks.
“It’s a good lesson for the kids to know they are giving to others using their hands to create the gifts and not relying on technology,” Bradford said.
Knowing that the younger generation is thinking about the older generation is a gift in itself, she added. “The seniors don’t always get out to things or to see their grandkids, so we like to provide something to make them smile, and it shows that 4-H is more than the fair and livestock,” Bradford said.
The project started a couple of years ago when Jenny Morlock, 4-H program assistant with Ohio State University Extension-Wood County, rode with Jayne Roth, retired Wood County 4-H agent who volunteered to deliver home meals one day a week. At the time, Morlock thought the 4-H Leadership Board could do a service project to make crafts that Roth could share when she delivered the 25 meals on her route.
Morlock was familiar with the home-delivered meals and knew the meals provided daily contact when volunteers knocked on clients’ doors with a hot lunch, Bradford said. “Adding an extra special touch from the kids would really brighten the day for those older adults,” Bradford said.
The project was such a hit that in 2022, the idea was offered to 4-H clubs across the county, which exponentially expanded the number of goodie bags that were delivered to seniors. A total of 585 bags were delivered last year.
This year, in addition to 23 4-H clubs providing the arts, crafts, messages and items, youths who attended 4-H Camp Palmer in June got to participate, Morlock said.
A grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation and JoAnn Fabrics was a boon to the 4-H program’s arts and crafts supplies. In addition to providing supplies for the office, the grant allowed them to purchase supplies for the camp’s “Make One, Give One” initiative.
“At camp, my kids made one (item) to keep and made one to give. They really enjoyed that opportunity of making two with one going to our service-learning project,” Morlock said.
“I know what it means to our kids to make something creative with their hands and share it with their hearts. It’s a good way to partner the two together as part of our pledge and a great community service project,” she added.
Wood County 4-H has been involved in other community-wide projects, including making hospice pillows and writing 500 thank-you notes for the Flag City Honor Flights’ September and November missions.
Club advisers especially like Senior Smiles because it is a simple activity that is so meaningful, Morlock said. “It gives them an activity at the beginning of the year when everybody is getting to know one another.”
The service-learning project is another way that 4-H incorporates positivity into its activities.
“It’s something they made themselves. It’s not about perfection, but it’s something that is meaningful to them and it builds their self-esteem,” Morlock said “And when they hear or see the impact that it has made, not only does it boost their self-esteem, but it’s good for their mental health.”
Those are the lessons 4-H members continue beyond their 4-H years, she said. “That’s my goal that they will see the difference that they’ve made and in turn, they will carry that on when they have these opportunities down the road as they move into college, careers and life.”
