Adams County 4-H clubs are conducting their second “Give a Hand – Give a Can” for hunger food drive now through Feb. 14. Through the service project coordinated by the Buckeye Barn Busters 4-H Club and supported by the Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee, 4-H members across Adams County have been collecting canned and non-perishable food items since the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and will continue through St. Valentine’s Day.
The collected food will be distributed through the Interfaith House in West Union. Drop-off barrels are located at the OSU Extension Office in the Government Center, First State Bank locations throughout the county, Fifth Third Banks in Peebles and West Union, and the Wood Forest Bank located in the West Union Walmart. Additionally, any donations can be given to any Adams County 4-H member or advisor, and they will turn in the donations with other contributions from their club.
“Since we reside in an area with one of the state’s highest poverty levels, our club wanted to do something for our primary service project to help with food security,” said Heather Simpkins, advisor for the Buckeye Barn Busters 4-H Club. Her daughter, Erin, who is part of the club’s community service committee, said, “We also wanted to have other clubs in the county get involved, so the project could have a bigger impact.”
As part of the project, all Adams County 4-H clubs are encouraged to participate. Individual clubs have been given a special two-digit code, identifying the donating club, to be written on items the club wishes to receive credit for. As a participation incentive, the club donating the most items will receive a pizza party sponsored by the Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee.
“One of the H’s in the 4-H pledge stands for hands to larger service,” Heather said. “We want to engage all the clubs in this service opportunity; and making it a competition will help with that. By the end of the project, I hope that we will once again collect over 1,000 items.”
Erin Simpkins, community service leader, Bonnie Simpkins, president, and Heather Simpkins, advisor for the Buckeye Barn Busters 4-H Club recently placed collection barrels for the “Give a Hand – Give a Can” for Hunger 4-H food drive in locations around Adams County. Here, they are placing a barrel at the Seaman branch of First State Bank. Collection barrels are also located at the OSU Extension Office in the Government Center, First State Bank locations throughout the county, Fifth Third Banks in Peebles and West Union, and Wood Forest Bank located in the West Union Walmart. Additionally, any donations can be given to any Adams County 4-H member or advisor, and they will turn in the donations with other contributions from their club.
To help kick-off the county-wide effort among 4-H clubs, members of the Buckeye Barn Busters 4-H Club brought donations for the “Give A Hand – Give a Can” for hunger food drive to their Jan. 17 meeting. Members pictured are: Front row, from left, Owen Simpkins, Ian Abbott, and Raegan Renchen; Back row, from left, Luvinnia Rhoads, Whitney Bauman, Bonnie Simpkins, Josie Myers, Amber Renchen, Hunter Rudd, Molly Bauman, and Erin Simpkins.
