After the devastating flash floods that swept Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend, Arkansas 4-H is stepping up to help their fellow Texas 4-H members and affected communities by hosting a gift card donation drive.
“Texas has suffered immensely in the last two weeks after the flash flooding in and around Kerrville,” said Breanna Wade, extension 4-H program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Arkansas 4-H wants to support our friends in Texas through this difficult time.”
Wade said the biggest need is for gift cards because they are easy to collect and distribute. Helpful options include Visa gift cards and those to Walmart, HEB Grocery, hardware stores such as ACE, Lowe’s or Home Depot, as well as gift cards to gas stations and chain restaurants.
“As cleanup efforts continue, organizations can be overwhelmed with folks who are trying to help by bringing physical items,” Wade said. “But often, this can create more work and stress for the community, rather than being beneficial.”
Those who want to contribute should mail gift cards to the Cooperative Extension Service State Office, 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, 72204, care of Breanna Wade. People can also drop gift cards off in person at the state office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. All gift card donations should be mailed or dropped off by July 25.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“These donations will be sent directly to Texas 4-H, which will deliver them to the county extension offices affected by the floods so that they can be dispersed to those in need,” Wade said.
Debbie Nistler, 4-H and youth development assistant vice president for the Division of Agriculture, said giving back is integral to the 4-H program.
“Service is an essential part of our 4-H experience,” Nistler said. “4-Hers genuinely care about their communities and are quick to respond when others are in need. I love watching our young people step up to help each other.”
Wade said that not only is Texas a bordering state, but also there are lots of folks in Texas 4-H that Arkansas wants to help.
“4-Hers are impacted by disasters like this. And when things happen, we want to pull together as an organization and show our love and show that we’re there to support them no matter what. It’s important for us to be able to supply them with the things they need to recover, succeed and later thrive throughout this difficult situation,” Wade said. “It’s up to us to show up for our fellow 4-H programs and the communities that have been impacted.”
For more information about the donation drive or to schedule a time to drop off gift cards, contact Breanna Wade at bwade@uada.edu.
To learn more about the Cooperative Extension Service’s youth development program, visit 4h.uada.edu or contact a local county agent.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
Rebekah Hall is with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.