Luncheon highlights extension service’s efforts
With 44 members and four clubs the local chapter of the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers is one of the most active in the state according to county coordinator Malikah Jones of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
During an annual luncheon held Monday several of the efforts of the Homemakers, as well as other arms of the local Extension Service, were highlighted.
During 2021 more than 2,570 volunteer hours were reported and they did such things as make and donate items to the Blair Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson; bake cookies and welcomed visitors to Mississippi at the welcome center in Toomsuba; sponsored breast cancer awareness; provided birthday and Christmas gifts for nursing home residents; engaged in weekly arts and craft meetings; and assisted with many 4-H activities.
Highlights of the 4-H program saw 285 youth learning new skills, while a 4-H club was chartered at Kemper Academy and 4’Hers participated in such things as expressive art workshops, STEM meetings and activities, Poster Art Contest and School Club meetings.
Through its family and consumer sciences the Extension Service provided such programs as a Walk A Weigh nutrition and physical activity program; heart health and diabetes education; and financial literacy.
The Extension service also has an expanded food and nutrition education program which involved 375 students from kindergarten through sixth grade at Kemper Lower and Upper Elementary schools.
The local office also handles one-on-one consultations relating to soil and water sampling; weed identification and control; pond management; garden tips and troubleshooting; turf management; and timber price reports.