The holiday rush of 2007, a "fresh" memory soon to be forgotten in anticipation of returning to school, Easter holidays, etc. However, in 2007 during those warm, easy going days of early summer, the Ascension Parish 4-H Junior Leader Club created memories that will rebuild lives and last a lifetime.
Ascension Parish 4-H Junior Leader Club members initiated a book drive and requested that school 4-H Clubs begin collecting books. The book collection and donation drive, sorting, cataloguing and delivery had been set as a community service-learning goal. The junior leaders challenged 4-H Clubs throughout the parish to collect books. Each school club collected books, turning them in to 4-H agents at club meetings during the 2006-2007 school year
The Ascension 4-H Junior Leader Club is an open project club. These teen leaders bind together by choice. This elite group of teens is motivated by a need; they may not be completely aware of in the maturation process. It is the natural instinct to "flock," nurture and sustain.
The community service-learning activity was organized by members in the Junior Leader 4-H Club that are in the 7th grade and above. A community service-learning activity is a hands-on activity, which provides a service to the community and provides an educational learning activity for the 4-H teen group,
While Ascension Parish students were busily collecting books, the junior leaders were learning about literacy, the impact of literacy and how to determine reading levels of books. Junior leader vice president Will Fox led the educational aspect of this project.
Junior Leader Club president Michele Hullum guided the junior leaders into action -- prompting, assisting and encouraging the use of the knowledge gained in the educational dimension of the service project. Applying the knowledge and skills, with approximated 4000 books collected, junior leaders began sorting the books into appropriate age categories, finding donation sites, packing books and delivering books. This book drive provided an opportunity for the entire parish to get involved in this community service event.
The initial book donations were delivered to the new library at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, Louisiana. The age-appropriate books were for children in 4th-8th grade. Many 4-H'ers attend Camp Grant Walker throughout the year. A good age-appropriate book and cozy reading nook are positive alternative camping experiences on a "rainy" camp day.
Dr. Mary Sciaraffa, university professor in child and family students and education at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, contacted junior leaders about donating preschool books to the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina destroyed all the books at the preschool located at NOBTS.
On September 21, 2007, the junior leaders delivered 38 boxes of preschool books along with the donation of playground equipment, children's toys, arts-and-craft materials and preschool furniture, which had been collected by East Bayou Baptist Church community members.
To complete their hands-on learning community service activity the Ascension Parish Junior Leaders had an opportunity to read to each class at the preschool. This was a great learning experience for these junior leaders who also had the opportunity to tour the school and learn the effects of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
According to Kim Craig, Director of NOBTS Preschool Education Center, the students and their families are enjoying many benefits from the Junior Leader Club donation.
“One mom of a kindergartener was able to pick out some books to take home and read to her child. He has not had books of his own since Katrina took their trailer home in St. Bernard.”
Or the fact that “this is book report time for many school-age kids, and we were able to supply some children with reading materials for their book reports.”
Perhaps his mom is reading him a book about “Papa Joyel" as this Christmas holiday passes.
“Lesse le Bon Temp Rouler” is something else our junior leaders were saying as they completed their delivery in New Orleans. Upon leaving the preschool, a stop was made so they could enjoy a little taste of the Big Easy at Café Du Monde and enjoy the jazz music in Jackson Square.
On behalf of the Ascension Parish Junior Leader Club we would like to thank everyone in Ascension Parish who contributed to the over 4,000 books that were donated and made this service-learning activity a success. We would also like to thank Junior Leader Club president Michele Hullum for her dedication to seeing this project through, Junior Leader Club vice president Will Fox for his research and providing the education aspect of this project; to Dutchtown Baptist Church for allowing the junior leaders to store their books while collecting, sorting and delivering the books and to Dr. Mary Sciaraffa and her husband for their assistance in delivering the books to New Orleans.
This is one simple, yet very real event, with a lasting impact. Louisiana 4-H Builds Leaders for Louisiana. It’s not our job ….It has been our privilege for a
CENTURY
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4-H is a Youth Development Organization of the LSU AgCenter. For more information contact the Ascension Parish office at (225)-621-5799[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Ascension]
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