By Laura Allen
N.C. Cooperative Extension

During this holiday season, giving is on our hearts and minds. Many of us are giving of our time, talents or resources to help those people and places that mean the most to us. 

The Rowan County 4-H program works to promote service and giving within the youth that we interact with, seeking to teach youth the importance and value of helping others. Annually, our 4-H clubs are tasked with completing at least one service project. This year, clubs have collected items for Rowan Helping Ministries, made fall-themed door hangers for local nursing homes, cleaned the meeting space at a local fire department and more. A couple 4-H clubs will soon participate in Wreaths Across America at the Salisbury National Cemetery. 

At the county level, our 4-H County Council (youth ages 12-18) hosted a Pasta Drive during the month of October. Ninety-nine pounds of pasta was recently donated to Rowan Helping Ministries. The county has also encouraged 4-H’ers to write letters to 4-H’ers who were affected by Hurricane Helene; those letters were mailed to Henderson County 4-H and given to members and volunteer club leaders of one of their 4-H clubs. We have also had 4-H families participate in the N.C. 4-H initiative “Helpful Hands, Healing Hearts,” providing items specifically to 4-H’ers in western NC affected by Helene. You, too, can participate in this opportunity by going to https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/helpful-hands-healing-hearts/. 

Just as our 4-H’ers are serving others and learning the value and importance of giving, we hope that you will consider participating in opportunities to give back to your local 4-H program during this season of giving.

Tractor Supply Paper Clover Week:

On Nov. 29-Dec. 15, you can donate to 4-H at the register while visiting Tractor Supply. Ninety percent of the donations collected for 4-H at the Salisbury store go directly to Rowan County 4-H. The remaining 10 percent goes to 4-H at the state and national levels, so 100 percent of these donations goes to 4-H. These donations specifically help 4-H’ers attend more expensive overnight events including 4-H Camp and 4-H Congress.

Send a child to 4-H camp:

In June 2025, Rowan County 4-H will be taking 20 youth to Millstone 4-H Camp for a weeklong overnight camp experience. The 4-H’ers will be technology-free all week and will have the opportunity to explore nature, meet new people, try new outdoor activities and learn new skills while also gaining life skills such as independence, resilience and problem solving. In 2025, 4-H Camp will cost $545, which is a lot for many of our local families, especially if they are sending multiple children to camp. If you are interested in donating to help a child attend 4-H Camp, please contact me. We always have families who want their child to attend but cannot afford to do so, and any donations are graciously appreciated.

Become a 4-H volunteer:

The Rowan County 4-H program thrives because of our extensive volunteer base. We have volunteers who lead 4-H clubs across the county, have specialized knowledge and skills to teach workshops to youth, and those who are just willing to lend a helping hand whenever they can. To become a volunteer, you must first contact me. You will then have to complete an online enrollment form, complete a background check and references will be checked. Once all of that is approved, you must complete a general 4-H training with me. Then you are an official 4-H volunteer and can assist our 4-H program in all that we do.

These are just a few of the ways you can give back to Rowan County 4-H this season. If you ever have any questions or are willing to help in other ways, please feel free to contact me. 

I wish you and yours all the best during this holiday season.

4-H is the youth development component of Cooperative Extension. Any youths ages 5-18 (as of Jan. 1) are invited to enroll and participate in 4-H. Visit us at 2727-A Old Concord Road in Salisbury or rowan.ces.ncsu.edu. For questions or more information, contact 704-216-8970 or laura_allen@ncsu.edu. You can also follow Rowan County 4-H Program on Facebook, @Rowan4h on Twitter, or rowan_4h on Instagram.

Laura Allen is 4-H agent with the Rowan County Extension.