Members of local extension homemakers clubs are working to promote their efforts during Extension Homemakers Week.
Starke County Extension Homemakers President Vicki Jernas says the groups offer plenty of opportunities to get involved in their local communities, “We’re all about strengthening families, education, helping people learn more, give them social skills, give them leadership skills, all these wonderful opportunities.”
She adds that Starke County Homemakers do a lot of volunteer work. “Within our county, our members have donated hundreds and hundreds of hours to help their community, whether it’s reading for the First Books program at the preschools, helping at the nursing homes, collecting food for the food pantries,” Jernas says. “We just do so many things.”
There are five extension homemakers clubs in Starke County. Jernas says that’s about a third of what there were 30 years ago. “You know, we’re getting fewer and fewer members, just like any other organization, and we’re hurting too,” she says. “But we still have really good things that we can volunteer and do within our community.”
In addition to having the opportunity to volunteer, Jernas says that joining one of the clubs is a great way to develop leadership skills.
For more information, visit the Starke County Extension Homemakers Facebook page, or the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association website.
