June 22, 2022 -
December 12, 2022
North Carolina Governor's Page Service Project (17 hours)
Local Service, Global Impact
SKILLS DEVELOPED
Collaboration, Communication, Problem solving, Civic literacy and citizenship, Leadership
SUMMARY
Reflection
Overall, the project consisted of contacting my 4-H club about submitting donations and also buying donations myself for the Forsyth Jail and Prison’s Cookies and Carols Ministry. In years’ past, the ministry had been able to accept homemade cookie donations, but since COVID changed protocols, they were only accepting Little Debbie Fudge Rounds and Oatmeal Cookies as well as full-sized hygiene items: shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, and deodorant. While there was a slight change in plans due to the ministry not being able to accept homemade cookies, I learned how to adapt to the situation and still complete my project, however, I missed the aspect of baking homemade cookies to donate—like I did back in 2019. I loved completing this service project because it allowed me to minister to the inmates at the facility, even though I was not able to meet them face-to-face.
Project Impact
I collected a total of ninety-eight items, including 33 bars of soap, 48 cookies (Little Debbie items), 6 toothpastes, and 11 shampoo bottles. I spent just over four hours on this project, however, it would have been more hours if the Forsyth Jail and Prison’s Cookies and Carols Ministry had been able to accept homemade cookie donations as they had pre-COVID. I would have loved to have baked cookies to donate!
PROJECTS TASKS
Project Proposal
0.50 hours leading an initiative | Compassion
Researched service projects and determined Forsyth Jail & Prison's Cookies & Carols Ministry would be my service project.
Project Planning
0.50 hours leading an initiative | Compassion
After making a phone call to Brooke Stultz to verify current collection guidelines, I discovered the ministry would only be accepting Little Debbie fudge rounds and oatmeal cookies along with full-sized hygiene items (shampoo, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant). Pre-COVID, homemade cookie donations were accepted, so I had to adapt my project based on my findings. I then emailed my 4-H Trailblazers group about how to donate items to the Forsyth Jail and Prison's Cookies and Carols Ministry.
Do the Project
2.50 hours leading a collection drive | Compassion
Before December 2, I collected items from members of my 4-H group on November 11 and November 18. Then on December 2, I shopped for items to donate myself and also dropped off the donations with Mr. Hodgekiss at the Forsyth Jail. I collected a total of ninety-eight items including 33 bars of soap, 48 cookies (Little Debbie items), 6 toothpastes, and 11 shampoo bottles.
Project Outcomes & Reflection
0.50 hours leading an initiative | Compassion
For the Forsyth Jail and Prison's Cookies and Carols Ministry, I collected a total of ninety-eight items including 33 bars of soap, 48 cookies (Little Debbie items), 6 toothpastes, and 11 shampoo bottles. These items will be distributed to incarcerated individuals there, while trained adult volunteers sing Christmas carols to the inmates. After completing the project on December 2, I completed the InnerView project forms, which took around 30 minutes. When invited to speak at the Forsyth County annual Farm Bureau Meeting on October 27, 2022, one of the guest speakers was a gentlemen who was formerly incarcerated at Forsyth Jail, and he gave his testimony of how his life had been changed as a result of those who showed compassion to him through the prison ministry there. This man completely turned his life around and strives to be the best husband and father possible to his family; realizing that my project was going to help men and women like him was extremely encouraging to me.
Aid/Relief
Hunger & Homelessness
Climate & Wildlife
