Giving is an important part of 4-H membership, and the Orange Blossom 4-H Club has found many ways to give back to the local community. This started in the fall with time donated to help with the Salmon Festival and also the Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll, where the club set up crafts and games for youngsters. Members enjoyed working together and meeting new people throughout both weekends.

The December 12th club meeting was about “giving.” The club collected toys to give to the Mason’s Toy Drive, members brought homemade cards for the care center, and they made individual commitments to make ginger bread houses at the care center later on in the week. One very important tradition of the club is to adopt families for Christmas. This year, the club was given the opportunity to help multiple families, so they adopted five local families with 19 individuals, giving toys, gift baskets, gift cards and other donations to bring good cheer to them all. At the end of the meeting, the members sang Christmas carols to the residents of Knights Ferry, including restaurant go-ers enjoying a meal at the River’s Edge Restaurant there in town. The giving will continue in into the New Year as well. Members have been asked to bring canned food for those in need, and they will bring materials to make scarves for the elderly.

A great partnership between the Orange Blossom 4-H Club and the Oak Summit Masonic Lodge #112 is certainly valued. The Masons have made generous donations to the club to help fund the games and crafts at the Pumpkin Roll, and they donate the use of their hall for the club’s end-of-the-year gathering. The club honored the Masons at their December meeting, and present for the honor were 50-Year Member Chuck Cross, Master of Lodge Dan Sissel, Future Master of Lodge Warren Croft, and Deacon John Thompson. Orange Blossom 4-H looks forward to working with the Masons in years to come.