News Release

Date: May 21, 2003

For: Immediate Release

By: Vickie B. Mullins

4-H Extension Agent

Santa Rosa County Extension Service

Telephone: 850/623-3868 or 939-1259, Ext 1360

4-H’ers Need Assistance

Summer is finally here and Santa Rosa County 4-H’ers are getting ready for a variety of activities. According to Vickie Mullins, Santa Rosa County 4-H Coordinator, “Santa Rosa youth are in for a lot of fun this summer as they learn by doing in 4-H activities.” Camps, 4-H Legislature and Florida 4-H Congress as well as several county leadership training workshops and community service projects will keep 4-H members busy and active.

However, activities cost money and 4-H funds are limited. According to Vickie Mullins the Santa Rosa County 4-H Club Fund needs approximately $3,000 more for summer activities. Mullins said, “We take what we have and try to spread it around so that the money available benefits as many youth as possible. Because of the limited funds, youth are already asked to pay for most of the activities that they participate in. We try to make sure that any child who desires to participate in an activity can do so. When money is available we provide partial scholarships and we do whatever we can to keep the cost of activities to a minimum.”

While the youth themselves assume responsibility for financing their participation in activities, children’s and family’s budgets are often strapped. Many 4-H members and 4-H Clubs have been doing fund raisers all year long to help pay for summer activities. In addition there will be car washes, yard sales and a couple of other activities this summer that will allow youth to earn money for the activities.

“It just seems as though there is never enough money,” says Mullins. One of the reasons for this is that the costs of things keeps rising, but the other problem is that when money is available Mullins tries to get more youth involved. “My philosophy is if there is money available it should be used to benefit the youth.” Also Mullins hates to say no to any child who wants to participate. This sometimes creates problems and Mullins starts contacting people for donations for the youth.

The community has been supportive of the 4-H program through contributions. Individuals, businesses and community organizations have been very generous in the past through making donations to the 4-H program. “We appreciate every penny that has been donated to the Santa Rosa County 4-H program and want to thank everyone who has made a contribution.”

“We are asking again for the support of the community” say Mullins. Anyone wishing to make a financial contribution to assist youth in participating in any of the summer 4-H activities should contact Vickie Mullins or Angela Sessions at the Santa Rosa County 4-H Office at 623-3868.

Also remember that 4-H is a 501 C non-profit educational youth organization and contributions are tax deductible.

For more information on any of the above activities, or about 4-H contact the Santa Rosa County 4-H Office at 623-3868.

Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.