On Dec. 1, the Chaptico Chargers 4-H Club donated 21 brand new bicycle helmets to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. The bicycle helmets will be distributed to children who are in need of a new bicycle helmet and participate in the Sheriff’s Office Bicycle Safety Rodeos.
4-H is a youth organization open to all boys and girls ages eight to 18 years old. Nationally, 4-H Clubs is organized through the Extension Service in the United States Department of Agriculture. St. Mary’s County, Maryland 4-H is coordinated by Extension Educators through the St. Mary’s County Government, Office of Maryland Cooperative Extension. Additional information on 4-H Clubs in St. Mary’s County maybe found at http://extension.umd.edu/local/SaintMarys or call (301) 475-4478.
Historically, 4-H is thought of as an agriculturally focused organization, however; 4-H today focuses on citizenship, healthy living, and science, engineering and technology programs. The 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white H on each leaf standing for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. White and green are the 4-H colors. The white symbolizes purity and the green represents growth. Members pledge: “My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service and My health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”
The Chaptico Chargers 4-H Club has participated in numerous community service projects throughout 2009. In addition to the bicycle helmet donation, 4-H members assisted the Cedar Lane Senior Living Community when they lost elevator service in January.
There Chargers members assisted residents navigate the stairs and carried packages. The Club also organized Bingo for the St. Mary’s Nursing Home and collected food for the Our Lady of the Wayside Church’s food pantry.
Susie Hall, Chaptico 4-H Club Leader, along with Janet Wood, a parent volunteer commented that their 4-H Club is always looking for community service projects to assist with. For the bicycle helmet project the members decided to each personally donate a helmet to promote bicycle safety for other St. Mary’s County youth.
Sheriff Timothy Cameron graciously accepted the 4-H bicycle helmet donation and stated, “These fine young men and women should be commended for the civic mindedness and commitment to community service. They put a lot of thought into their project and their donation will help other young people remain safe. I want to personally thank them for their time, dedicated service and generous donation.”
To find out more about the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Bicycle Safety Rodeo’s, contact Sgt. Gerald Johnson at (301) 475-4200 ext. 9041.
