Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Community service enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who need it most.
Gordon County 4-H conducts various community projects throughout the year from cleaning local river banks to collecting pop tabs for Ronald McDonald Houses. These projects allow youth to connect to the community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. Participating in community engagement is a two-way street: It can benefit youth as much as the cause chosen to help.
Community service is an essential way for students to explore their interests, show what they believe in, and define a possible career path. By engaging, students have an opportunity to learn experientially. They discover where their passions lie while undertaking ‘feel good’ projects that truly make a difference. These experiences allow them to make more informed choices, while instilling a lifelong interest in giving back.
The Gordon County 4-H Community Engagement Project for November and December is to visit a local Nursing Home. These visits provide company for residents as well as social interaction. Part of the visit includes assistance in playing BINGO. Researchers have found that playing bingo has multiple health benefits for the elderly. It takes concentration – which improves listening and short term memory skills and it promotes socialization – which is essential for seniors to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. Significant improvement in hand-eye coordination occurs with many seniors due to the speed required and the repetitive nature of the game. Bingo is a safe and fun environment in which to connect with 4-H’ers and gives a senior something to look forward to as well as a purpose. 4-H’ers can sign up to attend our nursing home visits scheduled for November 25 and December 19 by calling the Gordon County 4-H Office.
Not only are prizes given to the residents who are the first to complete that magic line and announce BINGO!, but residents who may not have the called numbers on their cards get prizes as well.
Prizes include note cards, combs, small stuffed animals, change purses, hand cream, socks, large print books, tissues, etc. Anyone interested in donating prizes for this community engagement project are asked to drop the items off at Gordon County Extension/4-H between the hours of 8:00am and 12:00noon or 1:00 and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The address is 1282 Highway 53 Spur, SW, Suite 200, Calhoun. Items should be dropped off before November 22, 2019.
