The Extension Connection

The Sac City area Jackson’s 4-H club used an Iowa Promise grant to help fund the remodeling of the kitchen in the Chautauqua building. Here the group paints during the project.

2003 FALL ISSUE

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Last update: October 2003

A quarterly publication of Iowa State University Extension

Youth keep promises to Iowa

The equipment at Old Glory Park in Brayton has a fresh coat of paint. The Chautauqua building in Sac City has a remodeled kitchen. Pleasant Plain senior citizens enjoyed free, fresh produce all season. All this is due to the work of Iowa youth.

Community service and improvement projects have happened across Iowa because groups of Iowa youth have received “Iowa’s Promise … Our Youth” grant funding. In 2003, the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service in partnership with Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development awarded $7,500 to 38 youth groups in 25 Iowa counties.

“The Penn Workers 4-H club saw the community service project grant money as a way to repay the community for many years of support,” said Cary Spray, Jefferson County 4-H youth coordinator. On land donated by a club leader, club members prepared the soil, planted, watered, mulched and picked the produce. But it was making the weekly deliveries to 22 families that really brought home the impact of their community service.

A youth group in Brayton recognized the need for community improvement at Old Glory Park. According to Sue Nymand, of the Brayton Community Club, “The kids wanted to use grant money to paint the equipment. The kids’ work has been an inspiration. Now there are plans for fundraisers for new equipment, a building with restrooms and a concession stand to accommodate Audubon Bike and Rec Trail riders.”

The $250 Iowa Promise grant funding (the maximum that can be awarded a group) was a fraction of the money that the Sac City area Jackson’s 4-H club members raised when they decided to remodel the kitchen in the 1908 Chautauqua building.

“After our July 4 fund-raising breakfast in the building last year we decided it would be nice to have a sink and hot water,” said Sandy Voyles, club leader. “The kids were able to rally the community for monetary, labor and material support.”

The club’s report about the $2,171 project said, “We learned that a historic building like the Chautauqua building cannot be replaced. Improvements in historic structures need to be appropriate and in character with the structure. A project this big takes the cooperation of many different people, including businesses, civic groups, outside sponsors, the city, our parents and leaders and all our club members.”

These real life experiences allow Iowa’s youth to take leadership and put citizenship skills to work for the betterment of their community.