National Volunteer Week

Community service and volunteerism have always been a vital force in American life. Throughout history, our nation has relied on the dedication and action of citizens to tackle our biggest challenges.

On Monday, April 9, 2012 President Barrack Obama declared this week (April 15-21) as National Volunteer Week.  Read Presidential Proclamation

As we begin National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Sumter County 4-H wishes to call attention to all the volunteers who bring support, experience and kindness to all facets of 4-H- thank you!  Volunteers give their time and talent to further our mission of assisting youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing citizens.

Our volunteers are vital for our organization, we simply could not function without their support and that is why Sumter County 4-H is recognizing local supporters at “Magic behind the Curtains” volunteer and donor recognition reception.

Those who are familiar with 4-H, know that we offer diverse youth development programing to youth ages 9-19. From Archery to Horse Club to Poultry Judging we have an activity to fit the interests of any child. That holds true for adults as well. What you will find is that there is no typical volunteer. A volunteer could be a college student wanting to gain experience in their field,  from a communications major helping with marketing and public relations; a health education major leading a healthy lifestyles programming; or an aspiring teacher leading club meetings or a judging team. A volunteer could be a retiree spending a few hours out of the week to transport youth to our offices; an individual utilizing their interest in photography by serving as a photographer at special events; a parent leading fundraisers or a working professional sharing their expertise to local youth. The opportunities are endless!

To learn more about becoming a volunteer at Sumter County 4-H please contacts us at sumter4h@uga.edu or 229-924-4476. If you are interested in volunteering for 4-H outside of Sumter County please contact your local Cooperative Extension office or call 1-800-UGA-ASK1.


Upcoming  Sumter County 4-H Volunteer Opportunities:

Cotton Boll & Consumer Judging Certified Coach: The coach will assist youth in understanding the importance of cotton as an agricultural commodity and helping youth learn about making knowledgeable, rational decisions when purchasing goods and services. There will be a Certified Coach's Training at the Tifton Campus Conference Center on Wednesday, May 2.  Transportation to and from the training will be covered by Sumter County 4-H.  Volunteer must be at least 18 years old and be a screened volunteer. The "season" begins in September and ends in November. If you are interested in being one of the volunteer coaches, please contact us at sumter4h@uga.edu or 229-924-4476.For more information about the contest, click here

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteer In Service to America)- Sumter County: This position will begin in early August. It is part of a larger project to increase capacity and the ability to reach youth in Georgia 4-H, specifically rural areas of the state characterized by high poverty rates, low high school graduation rates and other social changes. The volunteer/AmeriCorps member will commit one year, full-time to provide indirect services of marketing, fund development and volunteer training development.

Interested in serving as an AmeriCorps 4-H VISTA in Sumter County? -Stay tuned.