Members of 4-H Help Displaced Children by Putting Together Boxes of Hygene Products

Uprooted and displaced Colorado children will get a special package from 4-H’ers this week. A group of 4-H teens from around the state will put together 300 boxes of soap, shampoo, washcloths, dental products and other personal hygene items on Feb. 3 in Denver as part of their community service projects.

About 40 youth between 14 and 18 years of age will gather from 10 a.m. to noon in the Snowmass room at the Hilton Denver Tech South on East Orchard Road to fill the boxes. The teens, who are officers in the 4-H organization, are gathering in Denver for the weekend for their annual leadership development conference, an event that focuses on polishing the leadership skills of youth who have already been elected to leadership roles by their peers.

"Since its inception, 4-H has focused on teaching youth about the importance of community and community service," said Sue Cummings, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development specialist. "4-H believes that it is important for youth to give back to their community, and we strive to instill empathy and compassion in our members. In fact, some county 4-H clubs devote thousands of hours to community service each year in projects that range from picking up litter along a highway to spending time with elderly in a nursing home. These traits help form youth into competent, compassionate adults who contribute positively to their community."

Youth from around the state gathered items for the boxes for several weeks, often obtaining donations from local businesses. The boxes will be distributed to the Lutheran Family Services Foster Care and Refugee Children Program.

4-H is a youth development organization led by Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.