Even sweet potatoes can make a difference
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 30, 2010 1:46 PM
Late last month, Wayne County 4-H'ers got out in the hot field and gleaned sweet potatoes so others wouldn't have to go hungry as part of their Make A Difference Day project.
They had a goal of donating 2,000 pounds of sweet potatoes to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which serves 35 North Carolina counties. They ended up donating 2,478 pounds of sweet potatoes.
For Make A Difference Day, 4-H'ers and their parents picked up sweet potatoes from the field of J.R. Odem of Goldsboro.
The sweet potatoes were taken to the Food Bank, weighed and bagged for distribution to needy families. The project will benefit 2,086 people at a cost savings to the Food Bank of $8,865.50, said Wallace Simmons, local 4-H agent.
"Community service activities like Make A Difference Day help youths connect to communities and learn to give back to others," Simmons said. "During the process of gleaning sweet potatoes, Wayne County 4-H helped foster the development of lifelong friendships and long-term relationships with caring adults."
Simmons noted that the purpose of 4-H is to provide opportunities for youths ages 5 through 19 learn by doing through local clubs, special interest programs, summer camps, school enrichment programs and afterschool child care.
"Wayne County 4-H is committed to building outstanding citizen leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today's global society," Simmons said.
"Wayne County is making a difference locally and across the nation."