Community Engagement Opportunity

 Below is a collaboration with MarineQuest Trash Collectors program and New Hanover County 4-H! they are opening this opportunity up for 4-H members across the state. Here is a great way to show your creativity in turning debris into ART!

Turtle Trash Collectors and Plastic Ocean Project are teaming up to host a marine debris upycling art contest for all ages – and we want YOU to participate!

 

Upcycling is taking something that you no longer have use for and turning it into something useful rather than throwing it away. One way to upcycle is to create art, and that is your challenge for this contest! To participate, you can create any type of art you want to (sculpture, painting, collage, etc.), but it must include a turtle and trash collected from your community. All ages and geographic locations are welcome. Submissions will be grouped by age (Elementary and younger, Middle, and High School and older).

 

Marine debris, or trash in the ocean, has major impacts on all kinds of marine life. It entangles animals and can be ingested, causing blocks in the digestive system. Marine debris starts out as trash on land, and by picking up litter in our area we can keep the sea free of debris! To learn more about how marine debris impacts sea turtles, please join the Turtle Trash Collectors for a virtual program. Upcoming public program dates are available on our website.

 

Please see the attached flyer for more information on the art contest, or follow these steps to participate:

 

Step 1: Sign up to let us know you want to participate by clicking here. You can also sign up to earn your Turtle Trash Collectors badges during your cleanup here if you want to.

 

Step 2: Collect trash in your neighborhood, park, or local beach. Collect data using the Marine Debris Tracker App or the Ocean Conservancy Datasheet, and request your Turtle Trash Collectors digital badges.

 

Step 3: Sort and clean your trash with soap and water. Spraying it down with vinegar will also help to sanitize your trash before you make your art.

Step 4: Get creative! You can create a sculpture, collage, or anything you can think of with your trash. Make sure you incorporate a turtle and debris into your design somewhere. You can use other items you collected and items around your house, but try to avoid buying new items for this project.

 

Step 5: Submit a picture and description of your artwork by April 15th here. Pictures and descriptions will be posted on Facebook for the public to vote for winners during Earth Week. Prizes will be mailed to the participants whose art has the most “likes” in each age category.

 

Please reach out to us with any questions at SirakSchaefferL@uncw.edu or 910-833-0867.

Thanks to You!

 

We just wanted to share the nicest thank you note with you from Gibson Cancer Center.  This goes out to all our families that donated items during our 4-H Drive through earlier in the month.  

"On behalf of the Gibson Cancer Center patients & Staff, we would like to thank you for your generous donation!  Cancer is tuff but so are our patients!  Your kind donation put smiles on over 60 patients faces!  May the lord continue to bless your staff & the 4-H program and families.  

With Love,

Gibson Cancer Center Family"

Thank you all for making a difference!

4-H Community Engagement Opportunity

   Every year as part of 4-H Appreciation we complete a community engagement project.  Just because COVID has thrown a twist into how we do things doesn't mean that should stop.  So this year we are pleased to announce a different type of community engagement project that we hope everyone can be a part of.

  One of our own 4-H Volunteers, Jane Hurst, is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, Glioblastoma.  She has been undergoing radiation and chemo treatments since being diagnosed in June at stage four of this disease.  For those of you who know Jane, you know she is a fighter and has unbelievable faith, spirit, and grit.  She also has great compassion for her fellow man and animal.  

  This is why, in Jane's honor, we will be collecting items for Cancer Care bags to give to patients who are battling Cancer.  The bags have items to make patients more comfortable as they undergo treatment.  Please note due to COVID all items must be new and sealed before we can donate them.  Items we are looking for include:   

• Hand Sanitizer.  Patients with compromised immune systems due to chemo and radiation treatments need to be extra cautious about germs.  Pocket/purse size hand sanitizers, especially that are scentless are a great asset for them.  For many chemo patients their sense of taste and smell are off because of their chemo so something without scent is greatly appreciated.
• Moisturizers and lip balm. During chemotherapy, a common side effect is dry, painful skin and lips. Gentle skin moisturizers and lip balms can relieve dry skin and prevent sores or rashes. In your cancer care package, avoid products with a strong scent, as the smell can be irritating or nauseating to someone undergoing chemo.
• Snacks and water. These items serve many purposes, not the least of which is that snacking can pass the time during chemo treatments. Snacks like hard candy and fruit also help to counteract dry mouth and metal mouth (a metallic taste), common side effects of chemotherapy. Dehydration often causes headaches during chemotherapy, so it’s important for your loved one to drink lots of water. Decaffeinated and herbal teas are also a great addition to a care package as a way to provide relief and comfort. Gibson Cancer center requests no chocolate or microwave popcorn however they do have a Keurig in the waiting room and are always in need of Kcup beverages.

    Please remember due to COVID these need to be new in package items to be accepted, they can not accept hand made items as they have in the past for patients or reading material.  Many of you have had loved ones who you have supported through this process and may have other great ideas on comforting items to include.  We are asking that you donate what you feel comfortable donating.  We will be collecting these items during our 4-H drive through event December 5, from 3:30-4:30 pm.  To register for the 4-H Drive Through Please click on this link.  Please know you can also register on the 4-H App under programs.

    If you have any questions about this project please contact Wendy Maynor, 4-H Program Associate at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu or (910) 671-3276.

The Gift of Life

  Thank you.  Thank you to everyone who came out today for our blood drive in honor of Brooke Canady.  Brooke is a member of Explore NC and Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports clubs.  In March Brooke was in a motor vehicle accident.  As a result of the accident she needed several units of blood and in the five surgeries to help repair broken bones from the accident she needed more blood.  If the blood supply had not been in place Brooke might not have survived.
  As a result her 4-H club members and leaders came together to partner with the Red Cross and host a blood drive at the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center office.  Our goal was 25 units, but when it was all said and done the staff of four from the Red Cross worked constantly to obtain 36 units of blood today.
  The best part of the entire experience was that Brooke was there and able to thank everyone for taking the time to donate.  There is nothing as encouraging as meeting the person who was saved thanks to someone else's generosity, and is paying it back.