Organizers of last year's Day of Service, hope youth excitement for the event will lead to it becoming a tradition in the community.
Members of various 4-H clubs throughout Moniteau County gathered at First Christian Church on Sunday in California as they prepared for another Day of Service project.
Last year, The Moniteau County 4-H Day of Service Committee hosted an event honoring veterans, emergency personnel, and victims of 9/11 at Latham Memorial Family Park. The event coincided with the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
Club members supported each otehr through their service in 2021 as they organized their first Day of Service project and will do so again in the coming month. The 15 members of this year's committee - Madison McCord, Emma Russell, Hunter Berendzen, Emma Baepler, Kierstyn Lawson, Reagan Cain, Grant Pardoe, Isabelle Allen, Brayden Hallford, Ginna Meisenheimer, Olivia Meisenheimer, Caleb Howard, Sonya Grotjan, Raylyn Wilfong and Marie Baepler - are making sure this year's project goes off without a hitch.
4-H members organize much of the Day of Service themselves, with some support from Elaine Anderson and Laura Baepler. Members spend the first several months of the year contacting speakers, local organizations, personnel and veterans to invite them to participate.
Planning for the Day of Service began in January, 4-H member Isabelle Allen, who works with state council as the west central regional representative, explained. Although it's been a slow process its been enough time to get everything set up for when the day finally arrives.
Moniteau 4-H invited two speakers and is working on a third. The two confirmed speakers for Moniteau County's Day of Service include state Rep. Willard Haley and veteran Jeremy Amick.
This event might be slightly different than last year's. 4-H member Brayden Hallford said the 2022 Day of Service project will place more emphasis on local heroes. While it will still be taking place on Sept. 11, this year's theme for the event is "Honoring Local Heroes." The groups askthe community to come and join them as they celebrate law enforcement, emergency services, veterans and active military and local healthcare.
Members expressed how excited they are to see the event come to fruition and for attendees to see the sacrifices of those who serve their community. Last year, almost 200 people came to the Day of Service to show their support for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.