Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report / Midland County
220 West Ellsworth Street
Midland, Michigan 48640-5194
Phone: 989-832-6640 / E-mail:
Fax: 989-832-6758
Web: msue.msu.edu/midland
January 2009

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Midland 4-H’er organizes fun, charitable community service event

The list of inappropriate activities that can tempt teens who are out for fun on New Year’s Eve is lengthier than any parent wants to consider. Maddie Hayes, a Midland County 4-H member, thought there must be a better way for teens to ring in the New Year.

Coupling her interest in providing a fun, safe activity with a desire to help a number of her classmates stricken with various illnesses, including one diagnosed with cancer, the Bullock Creek High School junior came up with an idea of a ball to benefit the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

"I didn't want to spend another New Year's sitting around with friends thinking we could be doing something else," she explains. "This year we did something fun and helped people at the same time."

Hayes is active in Midland County 4-H and has received enthusiastic response from officials there as she strived to make this benefit a success.

"Maddie is a go-getter who approached us with her idea and has hit the ground running. The benefit ball gave teens a positive thing to do as opposed to some other things they could be doing,” said Dave Thomas, the youth educator for Midland County's MSU Extension Office, which operates the community's 4-H youth programs.

The benefit ball was a hit to more than 100 teens that attended. A disc jockey provided musical entertainment and the participants noshed on free food and won prizes donated by local businesses.

Through Hayes’ efforts, more than $2,000 was raised for St. Jude’s Children Research Center.

Family Nutrition Program helps more Midland families enjoy bountiful Thanksgiving

MSU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program (FNP) partnered with Alders Gate United Methodist Church’s Food Pantry again this year during the annual Thanksgiving Basket Program.

The difficult economic situations that many families are facing this year meant that the number of requests for assistance increased from 350 to more than 400. The families received an assortment of canned goods, a frozen turkey and fresh produce.

The FNP staff provided food recipients with educational materials and program information. The families all received a brochure containing food safety information regarding the turkey, with instructions from thawing to cooking and properly taking care of leftovers. This brochure also provided information about FNP classes.

Workers at the church received large quantities of apples and squash and requested information on storing and using this fresh produce. The FNP staff provided MSU Extension bulletins on these products for each family receiving donations.

Continued

FNP at Thanksgiving—continued

By partnering with this food pantry MSU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program was able to share a message with many income-eligible families about food safety, using, cooking and storing produce.

Since Thanksgiving, a few families who received the baskets have attended FNP programs as a result of what they learned from the information.

Contact: Lisa Treiber Extension Educator Family & Consumer Sciences

Local residents learn money management at crisis shelter

A series of four money management lessons were held at Open Door in November and December. The audience of a dozen people included a mix of men and women.

Some of these residents were from Midland, gearing up for getting back on their own; some were from elsewhere in the state. All were very interested in gaining financial and consumer skills to make better choices once they living independently.

The group began the series with a very dismal look at what they had to spend, and where they were financially. We began with goal setting, something they were familiar with, but with a spin on money.

At the end of the second lesson, four of the participants had set achievable goals, meaning they had contacted creditors and set up payment plans, cut up credit cards, spoken with significant others and began talking about finances.

By week three, several others were opening up and had begun tracking their expenses. At week four, the group as a whole had all done individual credit reports.

Follow up is scheduled for later this year. The group leader was very excited by the progress he had seen. MSU Extension will be working with this group in other programming ventures.

Contact: Lisa Treiber Extension Educator Family & Consumer Sciences

Maintaining services for Midland County residents

The Midland County MSU Extension office is always working hard to use the resources provided by its federal, state and county partners are wisely used to benefit local residents.

Like many organizations, the county office is facing budget cuts. The staff is committed to making every effort to continue to provide services that benefit all Midland residents.

While most efforts to efficiently use resources will not be evident to clients, one change will: office hours. The MSU Extension office is now open Mondays to Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. Staff will also be available by appointment from 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays to Thursdays and all day Friday.

Upcoming Events

4-H Volunteer TrainingFeb. 17

Pesticide TrainingMarch 2

Families & Financial Well-beingMarch 9

Money Smart WeekApril 19-25

Families & Financial Well-beingMay 20

4-H Exploration Days June 24-26

4-H Camp at Camp Neyati June 28 – July 3

Contact the Extension office for more details on all of these events or visit the website:

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.