North Bend 4-H and Cloverbuds Kick Off 2025 with Meaningful Community Outreach
By Autumn Gavlock
NORTH BEND – The North Bend 4-H Club and Cloverbuds are starting the new year with heartwarming outreach initiatives aimed at giving back to their local community.
During their first meeting of 2025, the 4-H club members voted to donate toys to the Western Clinton County Recreation Authority in support of the organization’s upcoming basket raffle, scheduled for February 1. Club Organization Leader, Midge Kramer, shared that this project is part of their larger goal for the year: to engage with and support their community in more meaningful ways.
“The Rec center offers so much to the community, and the kids wanted to do something for them,” said Kramer. “We had toys to donate, and it felt like the right thing to do.”
In addition to the toy donation, the Cloverbuds, with assistance from the 4-H members, are working on assembling comfort toys for children who visit the Bucktail Emergency Room. The project, which will be delivered by the end of February, aims to provide some comfort to young patients during what can be a stressful time in the ER. Along with the toys, the club will also prepare “get well” cards to accompany the donations.
“The list of toys the kids put together is meant to help bring a little bit of comfort to kids who are feeling unwell,” Kramer explained.
On top of their community service projects, the 4-H club is diving into public speaking, with members practicing impromptu speeches on topics such as different cuts of meat from sheep—the club’s animal of focus this year.
Club President Aaron Probst and Secretary Audrey Dorey led a session at the last meeting, demonstrating their knowledge in a lively discussion.
Kramer highlighted that 4-H is different from other clubs because it’s a community-oriented group where members can work on individual and group projects across a wide range of areas, from art and cooking to camping and animal husbandry. For the younger Cloverbuds (kindergarten through second grade), projects focus on Civics, cooking, and science.
Looking ahead, Kramer is excited about what the year holds. “We’ll be doing first aid and a STEM project this summer, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the kids grow and explore new things.”
This year, the club benefits from the expertise of 8 Penn State-approved volunteers, who will attend a training session at Penn State on March 15th. Kramer is particularly excited about the learning opportunities ahead. “Training is amazing. The more we open ourselves up to new knowledge, the better we can be as a group, team, and individuals,” she said.
Kramer expressed gratitude for her dedicated volunteer team, stating, “These kids are our future, and if we can teach them even a little bit of life skills to help them succeed in the world, then we’re doing something right.”
With various projects planned and new skills to be learned, North Bend 4-H is prepared for a year of growth,discovery, and service. Kramer is optimistic about what’s to come and excited to watch the club members take on new adventures in 2025.
“We have the BEST volunteers, and I am honored to serve them in any way I can,” she added.
If you or your child have questions about volunteering or getting involved in the fun offered by the North Bend 4-H & Cloverbud program, please don’t hesitate to contact Midge Kramer for more information. A heartfelt thank you to this group of community-minded young people and their advisors for all they do for our area!
