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Elbow Creek 4-H Clubs Contribution to National Make a Difference Day

One participant pets a goat for the first time

The Issue

USA Weekend magazine created the National Make a Difference Day as a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Every fourth Saturday in October, participants across the country lend a helping hand to improve the lives of others. Whether it is a community clean up involving hundreds of volunteers or a one individual spending the day with an elderly neighbor, these projects demonstrate compassion to fellow citizens.

Each year, USA Weekend selects ten national honorees as well as many local honorees to be highlighted in their April issue, coinciding with National Volunteer Week. Their stories are used to thank those who have contributed in the past and to inspire others to contribute in the future.

What has 4-H Done?

On the 15th anniversary of Make a Difference Day, Elbow Creek 4-H Club arranged an event called “Down on the 4-H Farm” for the children in their neighborhood. With the $2,500 awarded by the California State 4-H Program Service Learning RFP, the club’s project benefited Blind Baby Foundation of Tulare-Kings County and Happy Trails Riding Academy. Blind Baby Foundation helps children with various degrees of blindness and Happy Trails is a therapeutic riding academy for children with physical and mental disabilities.

Over 250 children with disabilities and their families attended. The event was designed to arouse the children’s senses of touch, hearing, and taste. The petting farm allowed children to feel and hear the variety of farm animals present while the cupcake decorating provided a taste of something sweet. A hay ride to the pumpkin patch gave children the opportunity to find the perfect pumpkin. Small beepers guided the way for the visually impaired. All the children were given “touch & feel” books as parting gifts.

The Payoff

The children relished in the new experiences. They enjoyed feeling the textured coats of goats, sheep, and calves and listening to the pigs squealing and a turkey’s gobble. Leaving with pumpkins, “touch & feel” books, and a smile on their faces, these children have wonderful memories to cherish from this event.

This service learning project also taught 4-Hers a deeper understanding of the children attending. 4-Hers met with Kristi from Blind Baby Foundation and Leslie from Happy Trails and learned about varying degrees of blindness and that these kids just want to have fun alongside everyone else. It turned out to be another fun day filled with learning, companionship, and disability awareness.

“In conclusion, we would like to thank National Make a Difference Day. If not for this special day, we may not have stepped out of our comfort zone and reached out to these worthy organizations in our backyard. Now that the bond has been made, lives have been change, and for that, we are grateful” – Elbow Creek 4-H.

Author: Claire Connolly, State 4-H Office Assistant
Posted July 2008
For more information, contact the Tulare 4-H Office at 559-684-3300 or cetulare@ucdavis.edu.

To submit a 4-H Delivers story, please contact the State 4-H Office at 530-754-8518 or fourhstateofc@ucdavis.edu.