Georgia 4-H need pop tabs to reach 15-year goal for Ronald McDonald House Charities
Georgia 4- H members have collected aluminum pop tabs to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia for the past 15 years. The students need to collect 16,500 pounds of the tiny tabs by Nov. 5 to reach their goal, a total 15-year donation of $ 100,000.
“We need $ 6,442.18 to have donated $100,000 in the 15 years we have been collecting pop tabs,” said Lori Bledsoe, Georgia 4- H Northwest District program coordinator. “We can make our $100,000 goal if we work together to recycle the pop tabs instead of throwing them away with the cans.”
In 2002, Georgia middle school 4- H students had the idea to collect pop tabs, recycle them and donate the proceeds to Ronald McDonald Houses.
One pound of aluminum is equal to about 1,500 pop tabs.
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, making new aluminum cans from recycled ones saves 92 percent of the energy required when making cans from bauxite ore,” Bledsoe said. “Recycling also cuts down on waste.”
Georgia 4- H rotates the donations each year across the locations of Ronald McDonald Houses in Georgia. This year’s pop tabs will support the Augusta house.
“Our 4- H members are dedicated to this cause. In Crawford County, Georgia, the kids even went to their county recycling facility and popped the tabs off all their cans,” Bledsoe said.
Georgia 4- H members in sixth through eighth grades will bring their pop tabs to 4- H Junior Conference, a weekend retreat set to take place in Rock Eagle 4-H Center on Nov. 5-6. The pop tab community service project is one of many that culminate each year at the conference. To donate pop tabs, contact the Gordon County 4- H/ Extension Office at 1282 Highway 53 Spur Southwest in Calhoun.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill, critically injured or medically fragile children who are receiving treatment at area medical facilities. The house offers a nurturing and supportive environment, including a place to eat, sleep, launder clothes and relax. Since opening in November 2002, the house has served over 5,000 families from 125 Georgia counties, 28 states and 8 countries. For more information, visit rmhccga.org.
4- H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Team Practice Begins
Practice for the 2016 Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging contest begins Wednesday, September 28 at 5: 30 PM at the Gordon County Extension/ 4- H office. This contest in one in which 4- H’ers learn about cotton as an Consumer Judging – Gordon County 4-H’ers dressed for their Cotton Boll commercials; Gordon County 4-H’ers judging a class of sweatshirts agriculture commodity in our state as well as gain skills in smart shopping, getting the best deal for one’s money. The contest is made up of two competition areas: judging classes and PSA’s / commercials. 4- H’ers are required to judge four classes of consumer items or services. Each class contains four similar items and has an accompanying situation statement. This statement describes a consumer and gives the needs to be considered when he/ she makes a decision to purchase the item. Factors influencing these needs may include the person’s age, gender, available money, lifestyles, school or job status, preferences or other requirements that depend on the item given and the individual in the situation. This year’s items to be judged are backpacks, toothpaste, smoothies, and formal wear rental. Students also create advertisements for cotton, using facts about cotton but also putting their own creative theme to the advertisement.
This team is coached by Gordon County 4- H Program Assistant Becky Pass. Last year, for the first time in several years, the senior team placed second in the area contest and qualified to attend state competition. For more information, please contact the Gordon County Extension/ 4- H office or come to the first practice.
Rivers Alive
On Monday, October 3, Gordon County 4-H will be participating in its annual Rivers Alive river clean- up. Meeting at 8: 00 AM at the Gordon County Extension Office, 4- H youth, staff, and screened volunteers will travel to two locations in Gordon County. Wearing gloves, participants will pick up trash and clean alongside the riverbanks, helping to keep our waterways safe and healthy. A t-shirt and lunch will be provided to youth participating. For more information, please call the Gordon County Extension/ 4- H Office at 706- 629- 8685.