Willing Workers fill backpacks for giving
Willing Workers of White Hall’s Extension Homemakers Club filled backpacks with socks, deodorants, blankets, snacks, Band-aids, coloring books, crayons, and many more items to be delivered to Neighbor to Neighbor for people in need.
The club met Nov. 28 at the White Hall Library. Eleven members were present, according to a news release.
President Karen Needler welcomed everyone. Jay Needler read the Thought: Homemade baked goods make great gifts. Vice President Dee Kindrick led the members in the Homemaker’s Creed.
Marnette Reed read the Handy Hint: Planning meals in advance can simplify last minute details such as rushed shopping. Jim Wilson read the inspiration from I Corinthians 10:31. Secretary Jo Ann Carr called the roll, with members answering the question: Do you use old-fashioned recipes?
Reed presented the program on Old-Fashioned Cooking with a Modern Twist. She said cooking has changed through the years. She said she started with a cast iron skillet, then electric skillets were popular, then crock pots, now it is the air fryer.
An air fryer is small, yet powerful and and one can roast, broil or bake in it but cannot deep fry in it. Reed brought a pork tenderloin she had cooked in the air fryer for 15 minutes for everyone to sample. She passed out a handout with air fryer cooking times for vegetables, meat, seafood and frozen food, along with some recipes. Kathy Wilson, educational chairman, will schedule a Christmas craft workshop soon.
Kay Cromwell, community service chairman, thanked everyone for bringing the backpacks and items for Neighbor to Neighbor. Seven backpacks were stuffed with 30 items each or more, and several bags of miscellaneous items will be delivered to Neighbor to Neighbor.
Cromwell also collected flour, sugar and cornmeal for the club’s monthly donation to White Hall Food Pantry. Sarah Payton collected the dolls and caps that members had made for Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the blankets that were donated for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and will get them delivered in December.
The White Hall Food Pantry items for December will be dried beans and cornbread mix. Members were also asked to bring caps and gloves for Neighbor to Neighbor to the December meeting.
Members were reminded that Reed will be hosting the Christmas party/ meeting on Dec. 19 and to bring a homemade gift for exchange.
Needler reported there are still pecans at the County Extension Office if anyone needs to buy any.
Hostesses for the meeting were Cromwell, Penny Scholes, Kindrick and Carr.
If you are interested in learning more about Extension Homemakers, you can call any member or contact Mary Ann Kizer, the family and consumer sciences agent at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, (870) 534-1033. To obtain a copy of the air fryer handout, people may also contact Kizer.