Recently, the Sherburne County 4-H ambassadors completed their Winter Service project. Several Sherburne County students organized a donation drive to collect items for children in foster care. 

Winter Service Project

The 4-H ambassadors are a group of students who are dedicated to community service. While they were brainstorming ideas for their Winter Service Project, they found that several among them were passionate about helping kids in foster care. An advisor and mom for the group, Kimberly Knapp, had a connection with an organization called The Forgotten Initiative, which offered guidelines to the students on which items to collect to support kids in foster care. 

The Drive

After a couple months of planning, the 4-H ambassadors held their contactless item drive at the Sherburne County Government Center. The drive was focused on collecting baby items, as the organization expected an upcoming baby boom. However, items for kids of all ages were happily accepted, so long as they were in new condition. 

Danielle Ganje, Sherburne County 4-H extension educator, said it is important that kids in foster care have their own, personal belongings as they are placed in a new home. The hope of the drive was to create backpacks or diaper bags that would go with the children wherever they were placed. 

The drive was very successful. Knapp reported that her car was full to the brim with donations. 

“We were blown away by the generosity and the number of donations we received,” said Ganje. “This was the ambassadors’ way of fulfilling their 4-H pledge to give to others.” 

Those who missed the drive, but who would still like to support foster children by donating items or money, can go to TheForgottenInitiate.org. 

Other Projects

With the success of the drive, Ganje says she could see doing a similar project in the future. 4-H hosts various other events throughout the year, and they would love support from the community. Individuals can support the club by following the group on social media, or by making a donation at z.umn.edu/4HgiveSherburne.

The ambassadors also recently worked on making blankets for Project Linus, an organization which provides blankets to children who are seriously ill or traumatized. The ambassadors, a group of teenagers, also work regularly to teach younger students in 4-H.

Ganje says that 4-H hopes to hold its normal events in-person once again in the near future.