AMES, Iowa—More than 1,000 4-H’ers, chaperones and Iowa State University Extension staff members took part in the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference’s community service day in June.

Participants spent day two of the state 4-H conference fulfilling the third part of the 4-H pledge — “hands to larger service” — in an effort to better the Ames community and surrounding area.

The 4-H community service projects included pulling weeds and picking up tree limbs at a local church, beautifying the ISU Extension 4-H Youth Building grounds and sewing pillowcases for families of Operation: Military Kids.

Forty matching pillowcases made of red, white and blue printed fabric were cut, ironed and sewn by 20 of the 4-H conference participants. Military families will receive two of these matching “buddy pillows” — one for the deployed parent and the other for his or her son or daughter.
 
“The purpose of this project is to provide military families with mementos that both the parent and child can keep when their family member is deployed,” said Emily Hemphill, a 4-H conference participant and Speak Out for Operation: Military Kids team member.

Iowa’s Operation: Military Kids began in 2004 as a partnership between U.S. Army Child and Youth Services and ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development. The program provides positive youth development programs and community-based support for children and families impacted by deployment.

The goal of Operation: Military Kids is to support geographically dispersed children and youth of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers.

Throughout the week, Operation: Military Kids also coordinated a 4-H conference workshop. Participants played an interactive board game that helped them discuss the issues and situations military kids and families may face when a parent is deployed.

“Operation: Military Kids allows children to open up and make others aware of the issues these families are going through on a daily basis,” said Hemphill, a high school junior from Utica, Neb.

Volunteers of any age can support the Operation: Military Kids’ efforts. For more information on how to become involved, contact your local county ISU Extension office or the Operation: Military Kids State Military Liaison, Chris Gleason, (515) 294-1557.

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