It's been a financially difficult year for many families and 4-H families are no exception. Clubs who, in the past have participated in multiple service projects at this time of year, have found it hard to be as generous this year as their members have had to tighten their own belts. Still, many clubs have continued to participate in service projects as much as their resources would allow.

Poplar 4-H Club members baked muffins, candy and cinnamon rolls for the senior citizen members of the Poplar Springs United Methodist Church. They were able to fill 15 baskets with delectable sweets for the seniors.

In January, Poplar 4-H'ers will be collecting canned goods, along with hats and gloves for St. Michaels' Food Pantry. This project is usually completed in December but had to be postponed when their December meeting was cancelled.

Horizons 4-H Club, which is one of the smallest, having only six members for most of the year, but recently acquiring eight new members, is in the process of planning a service project to help the homeless. They plan to join forces with Parkview Apartments' seniors in making blankets. These knitted and crocheted blankets will be donated to Grassroots to be distributed to new clients who are coming in with very little.

West Friendship Livestock 4-H Club tries to participate in service projects throughout the year. Last April, they put together coloring packets containing three or four coloring pages and crayons. These packets are then donated to the pediatric emergency room at Howard General Hospital.

In October, the club collected food for a local food bank. They were able to donate four to five grocery bags of non-perishables to those in need. This month the club is collecting toys to be donated to Toys For Tots.

Dayton 4-H Club just completed their December service project. Through Neighbor Network, they adopted a family for the holidays. This year's family had six members, including four children ages 2, 4-year-old twins and 12. 4-H members were given a wish list that the family had made. 4-H families donated what they could, which the members then wrapped at the December meeting. Altogether, enough items were purchased to fill six to seven huge trash bags of presents.

In January, Dayton members will be supporting the Cold Weather Shelter by cooking and serving a hot meal to homeless being sheltered that evening at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church.

Linden-Linthicum United Methodist is one of many churches who open their doors to the homeless during the evening winter months. The different churches take turns being the designated shelter for the week. The temporary residents are fed a hot meal each evening by the various church groups. Dayton 4-H, which meets monthly at LLUMC, have participated in this program for quite a few years.

I applaud the efforts of 4-H members to follow through on their pledge to use their "hands to larger service" for their community and their country. I'm encouraged by the generosity of 4-H families to help others less fortunate even in today's economy. I'm sure the recipients of your gifts will always remember how you helped them make it through these rough times.

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