According to data from the Corporation for National and Community Service 763,706 Kentuckians volunteered in 2015 of their time, talent and effort to improve people’s lives. 84.34 million hours of service and $1.7 billion of service were contributed.  Henderson County’s population is around 46,250 and the need for volunteers is more critical as programs expand. 

The Henderson County Extension office ended the year with a leadership appreciation dinner that was called “Henderson County Leadership Hall of Fame”. This program started last year and continued this year.  Leaders were invited to attend a night of appreciation and awards ceremony where a leader from each program area was surprised with an overall award. 

Each Extension agent needs community members to assist in teaching or organizing programs, leading clubs and groups, assisting with events or activities, and providing input and guidance. Volunteer opportunities include: Club Leaders, Project Club, Master Clothing, Extension Homemakers, and many others. Volunteers are recruited by interest in programs, attending multiply activities and events including cooking classes, estate planning workshop, health fairs, homemaker activities, diabetes coalition, and any community event that is partnered with extension.  We offer trainings for volunteers yearly in council meetings.  

The FCS Agent gave out 2 awards this year. One for overall FCS volunteer and the other homemaker volunteer. The FCS person is for a person who works with programming including, council, team teaching on programs and homemakers. The homemaker award went to a 25-year member who attends every homemaker event including the organization of and support. She has been county president for many years and She supports the ovarian cancer screening and all FCS programming. Other agents presented awards according to their programs but all agreed on overall extension award. Time is worth money. One hour equal $24.14 per hour. For just the 2 awards that were given out by the fcs agent for the winners the hours would be worth over $4,828 value a year and $24,140 in a five-year period.