On March 14, 2022 Union County Smoky Mountain home school 4-H group, lead by Bill and Debbie Morgan. Gathered at the Tindell's house to have a community service workday. Our goal was to serve Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville, elderly shut ins and the Union County children's services department. There were 34 of us present including 4-H'ers , parents and extension agent Alyshia Victoria. We worked diligently from 10 to 2 our main goal during this time was to prepare homemade meals including breakfast and dinner that could be frozen, pulled out and heated as families in the house needed them. The group prepared 56 chicken pot pies, 16 spaghetti and vegetable meals, 13 chicken casserole and vegetable meals, 13 chili/cornbread, 17 beef stew/corn bread meals . This will bless many families over the next few months with homemade meals at their stay at Ronald McDonald.

We also worked hand in hand with 4-H alumni parent and community volunteer Connie Dickey to deliver soup and cornbread to multiple elderly shutins here in Union County. The kids handmade cards for each delivery, these cards and hot meals brought a smile to many community members.

In addition to the meals, the group using their 4-H sewing skills made tote bags to distribute to children checking in to the RMD house as well as children being taken into custody by the department of children services in Union County. These tote bags were filled to the brim with items such as snacks, juices, books ,toys ,crayons and more. All the items used to prepare the meals as well as the bags were donated by the families in the 4-H home school group.

In 4-H our pledge we pledge our head to clearer thinking, our hearts to greater loyalty, hands to larger service and health to better living for our club ,our community, our country and our world. And that's just what we did on March the 14th. If your child is interested in joining 4-H from the public school or homeschool please contact the UT Extension office at
865-992-8038.