Part of being in 4-H and a good citizen of our country is taking an active role in making our community a better place to live and, helping our neighbors when they are in need.  According to the United States Census Bureau the median income of Greenup County citizens is $47,517, and 16% of the population is at poverty level.  Greenup County’s unemployment rate averages 7% which is 3% higher than the national average of 4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In 4-H we strive to instill in our members a since of community, and encourage them to give back to their schools and fellow citizens.  

Each 4-H club in our county has some sort of community service that they conduct to help give back to the community.  Since our school clubs take place during class time, the student’s think of ways that they can help out their school or surrounding area as a class.  One of the 4-H school clubs at McKell Elementary decided that they wanted to help out by gathering items for a local “Blessings Box”.  A blessings box is a storage cabinet or container located in a community that people who are in need can walk up to and gather supplies that they may require.  These items can be food, kitchen supplies, hygiene products, or anything else that we use in our day-to-day life.  

The 4-H club gathered supplies during fall of 2018, and had an outstanding success!  They gathered several pounds of food and supplies from the students and staff at the school a few times a week for the blessing box.  The fourth grade teacher would take the supplies and fill up the blessing box multiple times a week, bringing food and supplies to the poverty stricken families of the community.