Kanawha County Extension Service Points of Pride
- In 2009, more than 22,120 residents turned to the Kanawha County WVU Extension Service for needed information and important educational programs. These efforts may have solved a gardening problem, provided new direction in careers, developed leadership and higher aspiration in youth, or equipped families to improve their lifestyles.
* In 2009, approximately 500 community members visited Family Fun Friday events at the Capitol Market to participate in activities related to better nutrition, improved home horticulture, and youth science projects.
- Through Kanawha County’s intensive multiweek Family Nutrition Program, 153 struggling and working families and 2,204 grade-school children learned how to improve their health and nutrition.
- Kanawha County 4-H programs reached 3,986 youths in the 2009-10 school year.
- More than 1,000 Kanawha County youths participate in a 4-H event, club, or program each year.
- Energy Express helped more than 100 elementary school children beat summertime learning regression through the award-winning literacy day camp which also employs 24 county adults.
- 844 urban youths benefited from the after-school program – learning more about a variety of subjects and staying safe until parents could take them home.
- The county’s 191 Master Gardeners provided nearly 3,000 hours of community service – helping gardeners reap economic and health rewards from better gardens and conducting other home and community horticultural projects.
- More than 4,760 county residents had home horticulture requests addressed by the WVU Kanawha County Extension Office.
- More than 2,100 members of civic organizations attended educational talks and classes on agriculture and home gardening given by Extension last year.
Quotes from Kanawha County Residents
* “Dear Mr. Robert Burton, Nutrition Outreach Instructor…You are always a tremendous inspiration to the folks that attend your Nutrition Program, and we are optimistic that this year the classes will reach even more of our population!” -Suzanne Riley, MSW, Patient Education Coordinator, FamilyCare Health Center
* “Without the WVU Extension Service, there would not be a 4-H camping program in this county. That would be a true loss to the community. I did not start being a leader until age 37, and after 14 years, it has changed my life. I have seen 4-H turn kids around in their lives as well.” – Mark Bright, 4-H Volunteer Leader
* “4-H taught me to care for others, even if you don’t know them.” – Michael Facemire, 4-H Teen Leader
* “Kerri…I think about how you made such a difference in my life. Starting out not knowing what to expect, to thinking Wow! Way to go Cheryl. Being at Ben Franklin those 15 weeks with you really helped me be so much better at my job!” – Cheryl Galloway, Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialists class participant
