4-H'ers Call for H.U.G.S.

4-H’ers Call for H.U.G.S.

       Anyone who would like to help kids stay warm this winter can contact a 4-H member anywhere in Oklahoma County and give them some “H.U.G.S.”

      H.U.G.S. are new hats, underwear, gloves and socks that are collected by 4-H clubs and members in the fall and delivered to kids who need them through churches, schools, community groups and other outreach avenues.

       “A few years ago we looked around for an opportunity to help out kids in our own communities,” explained April Adams, 4-H Youth Educator for Oklahoma County.  “What we found was that there is a definite need among limited income children for new underwear and socks.  And hats and gloves are a big help for kids who have to wait for a bus or walk to school during Oklahoma’s winter months.”

       Last year, 4-H members collected around 3,000 H.U.G.S. and donated them to Positive Tomorrows, a school for homeless children, the Infant Crisis Center, the Salvation Army, Christmas Connection, Citizens Caring for Children and other groups.

       “We found that doing something for someone else is a great way to kick off our new year,” Adams said.  “October is National 4-H month and collecting H.U.G.S. has become the way we celebrate that.”

     In addition to individual members collecting H.U.G.S., 4-H clubs place a number of H.U.G.S. boxes around the Oklahoma City metro area so that individuals can conveniently deliver their H.U.G.S.

     Collection sites include the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension office and all of the Oklahoma County Commissioner’s and other elected official’s offices.

      The 4-H clubs will be collecting H.U.G.S. through the second week of November.

      For more information about the H.U.G.S. program, contact the Oklahoma County 4-H department at 713-1125.