HOT SPRINGS — The Southside Extension Homemakers Club of Drew County and the Desha County Extension Homemakers Council were among the 75 local clubs and county councils honored during the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council awards ceremony.
Helping Hope Place Monticello and providing funds for the Arkansas Post National Memorial Park were among the outstanding record book projects recognized during the annual meeting of the Arkansas EHC, which was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The 5,000-member state council is a volunteer organization associated with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. During 2011, the members contributed 478,846 hours of volunteer service statewide for an estimated value of more than $10 million.
The state council is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Extension Homemakers/Home Demonstration work in Arkansas.
Ten members of the Southside Extension Homemakers Club chose to help Hope Place Monticello for their project. Hope Place provides spiritual, educational, physical and emotional support to its clients, who are pregnant. They offer compassion, mercy and hope to these persons facing decisions regarding pregnancy, abortion and sexual health. Their focus is on saving and transforming lives. The club helps pay for ultrasounds as each client receives one, helps purchase baby items such as sippy cups, diapers and other baby needs and helps to provide meals for a Bible study and support group for the clients each Wednesday, along with various other clubs and organizations. Volunteer hours are 22 and contributions total $193.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Five members of the Desha County Extension Homemakers Council participated in March for the Park, helping the Arkansas Post National Memorial Park raise enough money to help repair its Civil War computer program and feed the many volunteers that help at the park. The club secured sponsors and participated in a walk to raise money for the park. Volunteer hours totaled 250 and the club raised $1,140.
Information about Extension Homemakers is available by visiting the website at arextensionhomemakers.org or calling a county Extension office.
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The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.