Friday, February 01, 2013

West Plains Optimist Club Donates to 4-H Shooting Sports, Program Continues to Grow

The West Plains Optimist Club has donated $100 to the University of Missouri Howell County Extension 4-H Shooting Sports program.

The local 4-H Shooting Sports program was introduced in October, 2012 with seven certified shooting sports instructors and 45 youth who will participate in archery, rifle, pistol, and shotgun. The program plans to certify a volunteer for muzzleloader instructor and Hunting and Outdoor Skills Leader to continue to grow the project.

“The 4-H program is eligible to apply for local, state and national grants if community support can be shown with matching funds and donations that will sustain the program after receipt of the initial grant funds,” said Amy Patillo, 4-H youth development specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

The Shooting Sports program is very expensive for youth to participate in, with the requirement to purchase a firearm, ammunition, range fees, local youth shooting events, and travel and lodging fees to state and national competitions.

“This donation and others will provide much needed resources to support the youth in our community,” said Patillo.

The Optimist Club donation was instrumental in in helping the 4-H Shooting Sports youth program secure a $1500 National Wild Turkey Federation Grant and a $540 National Wild Turkey Federation Grant designated to create a partnership with the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and the Conservation Department located in West Plains, Mo.

The West Plains Optimist Club has served youth and the community for 40 years through community donations and club membership. The Optimist club supports worthy causes and depends on the support of our community to contribute to a better future for our children, to promote an active interest in good government, to encourage community service among young people, and to develop optimism as a philosophy of life.

Members of 4-H across the nation are responding to challenges every day in their communities and their world. 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. More than 6 million 4-H youth in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities stand out among their peers: building revolutionary opportunities and implementing community-wide change at an early age.

4-H is open to all youth ages 8-18. To join 4-H or become a volunteer contact any of these 4-H youth development specialists in southwest Missouri: Velynda Cameron in Polk County at (417) 326-4916; Bob McNary in Jasper County at (417) 358-2158; Karla Deaver in Lawrence County at (417) 466-3102; Amy Patillo in Howell County at (417) 256-2391; or Jeremy Elliott-Engel in Newton County at (417) 455-9500.

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