Once again, 4-H members in each elementary school are collecting pop top tabs for their community service project and the first full jugs have been turned in.
All tabs will be donated to our local Ronald McDonald House for recycling.
In the process of collecting these tabs, the students learn the importance of recycling, and are encouraged to recycle the entire aluminum can. They also learn about the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities across our nation, especially the important role it plays in supporting families with children needing long term care at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
They also learn about “community” and the importance of giving back to their own community. Our older students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join 4-H Honor Club where they can participate in a variety of community service projects.
Each elementary school is provided with a recycled water container to hold their pop tabs. The students in 4-H were pleasantly surprised at their November meetings when most schools’ containers were over half full. Then, when arriving at Maynardville Elementary School on November 17 for the last meeting of the month, the students turned in two full containers.
We are so excited about the great job the schools are doing this year and would like to thank all the students, teachers and staff that have contributed, as well as the 4-H officers, and especially the Community Service officers at these schools.
This project continues throughout the school year and the students are developing additional projects to serve their communities.
To conclude this project, the 4-H Honor Club will deliver the donation to the Ronald McDonald House.
In previous years, the teens have volunteered additional time at the Ronald McDonald House. They choose how best to assist—it may be cooking dinner or baking cookies for the families in residence, it may be weeding or adding flowers to the landscaping—who knows what they will choose.
This year, some of our elementary school 4-H officers are looking forward to joining in as the Honor Club makes its annual delivery. If you know of a 6th through 12th grade student interested in community service, please contact our new 4-H Agent Abby Thomas at athom237@utk.edu or call 865-992-8038.
You, too, can help our 4th and 5th grade 4-H members meet their school tab collection goals. Just drop off your tabs at your nearest elementary school. The 4-H community, parents residing at the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald House Charities all thank you.