Community service is such an integral part of 4-H. Both our Honor Club and All Stars group are designed to promote community service, and all of our clubs participate in service projects. They range from sending cards to those that are homebound or at Willow Ridge, to serving a meal for the veterans of Union County, to removing non-native invasive plants at Big Ridge State Park—a real variety!

One project that every 4th and 5th grader has the opportunity to support is the Ronald McDonald House.
4-H members in each elementary school collect pop top tabs for the Ronald McDonald House as their community service project. The tabs are recycled by the Ronald McDonald House and turned into cash—a small donation from Union County residents collected by the students.

In the process of collecting these tabs, the students learn the importance of recycling, and are encouraged to recycle the entire aluminum can. They also learn about the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities across the nation, especially the important role it plays in supporting families with children needing long term care at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

They also learn about “community” and the importance of giving back to their own community. Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join 4-H Honor Club where they can participate in a variety of community service projects.

At the beginning of the year, each elementary school is provided with a recycled water container to hold their pop tabs—then the challenge begins! It turns into a competition as each school tries to fill the most jugs. The jugs are collected monthly or whenever they are full. Students brainstorm and develop methods of increasing the # of tabs collected within their school or around the community. Some have developed very creative marketing plans—skills for their future!

The 2023/24 school year winner is Maynardville Elementary School! Their 5th grade officers were the marketing team and went to work early this year, resulting in the collection of seven full jugs.

That will be a hard act to follow next year but everyone in the community may collect tabs all summer and donate them to the school of their choice. The 4-H community, parents residing at the Ronald McDonald House, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities all thank you!