Volunteering ones time can make a difference in the lives of others. The Muhlenberg County Extension Homemakers decided during the January 2020 County Homemaker Council meeting to enter the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association Family and Individual Development Contest. The county Homemaker Association President informed this agent that this was the first time that the county homemakers had entered a state contest since she had been a member of homemakers. The projects that they agreed to do included making fidget quilts for dementia patients and capes for the Center for Courageous Kids. The chairperson of that county committee contacted nursing homes and rehabilitation centers in the county to see if they would want fidget quilts for these patients. The director of the Center for Courageous Kids was also contacted. All of the facilities and organizations that were contacted agreed that the quilts and capes would be beneficial to their patients and youth campers

Twelve ladies from four different homemaker clubs and mailbox members/members at large in the county helped cut, sew, and stitch during three work days for a total of 108 volunteer hours with a value of $2,746.44 based on 2019 data. The council initially set a goal of ten quilts but ultimately made twenty five quilts. The quilts were presented to three nursing homes that had rehabilitation centers and the Long term care unit of the local hospital. These volunteers also made 53 capes and worked with this agent to have them shipped to the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Kentucky. The director of the Center emailed this agent and said “Thank you to your county Homemaker’s for such an amazing effort.”   This agent learned that the County Homemakers placed third in the state competition for these projects. Volunteering really does make a difference in the lives of everyone.