Holmes County 4-H Club Assembles Care Packages for Veterans

The Holmes County 4-H Shooting Sports Club met today at the Eastern Holmes Sportsman Club, where members and their families assembled goodie bags to be delivered to the Veterans Assistance Office for distribution to county veterans. Each bag included a thank-you note from a club member, part of one of the club’s two annual community service efforts.

In addition to the veteran care packages, members composed thank-you notes for Holmes County service organizations to be included with the club’s annual holiday distribution of cookies and candies. Families of club members prepared a picnic-style lunch for the group, combining social time with service work and reinforcing the volunteer network that supports these local efforts.

The club’s activities have local significance beyond the immediate donations. By organizing regular community-service projects, the 4-H Shooting Sports Club provides structured opportunities for youth to practice responsibility, civic-mindedness, and teamwork. The club’s range of projects includes archery, crossbow, pistol, shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun shell reloading, living history, hunting and wildlife, Western heritage, trapping, fishing, natural resource projects, and self-determined projects, offering pathways to practical skills that are relevant to Holmes County’s rural economy and outdoor culture.

The next club meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, weather permitting, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Eastern Holmes Sportsman Club. Anyone interested in the 4-H Shooting Sports program is welcome to attend, providing an open point of entry for families seeking youth activities that combine recreation, education, and community service.

For residents who want more information, contact the OSU Extension Office at 330-674-3015, or reach out to club adviser and certified instructor Patricia Ann Lang at 330-275-7578 or patricia.lang1950@gmail.com. Regular, locally driven volunteer initiatives like this one help stretch community resources, bolster support for veterans and service groups, and cultivate skills among young people that can contribute to the county’s long-term social and economic resilience.