Clemson Extension Agent Barbara Brown (L) and 3 yr. old Clara Mihelle Campagna (R) opens a Hero pack from the S.C. 4-H'ers OMK project. Clara is the daughter of Frank and Heather Campagna.  Frank is serving the the Guard and currently in Iraq and Heather is volunteering on the state team.

DATE: 3/8/05

CONTACT: Barbara Brown, (803) 773-5561

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

S. C. 4-H’ers reach out to military kids

CLEMSON – South Carolina 4-H clubs are helping military youths in the state live a somewhat normal life while their parents are deployed in the war on terrorism.

“Operation Military Kids (OMK) is a project aimed at providing positive youth development programming to children while their parents are away,” said Barbara Brown, Clemson Extension agent and OMK liaison.

“We also want to mobilize communities to offer broad-based support to the families and youths of deployed military members. We are focusing on Guard and Reserve families,” she said.

Brown said that military kids need to connect with other youths in similar situations. They seek friends and adults who can help them cope with their new world.

According to recent reports, more than 10,000 South Carolina Army and Air National Guard are serving here and abroad in support of the global war on terrorism. Currently, more than 2,800 troops remain deployed. Others are preparing to go abroad for the second time.

OMK creates community support networks; delivers recreation, social and education programs; helps military kids cope with the stress of knowing their parents may be in harm’s way; collaborates with schools to ensure that staff are attuned to the needs of military students; educates the public on the impact of the deployment cycle on soldiers, families, kids and the community as a whole; and becomes a part of the ongoing 4-H program where there are military families.

Hero packs are being put together by 4-H members to give to children of deployed military parents.

“The idea is that the youth whose parent is serving in the war on terrorism is also a hero because he or she also has to sacrifice due to the war,” said Brown. The pack also includes a personal letter from a 4-h’er.

Approximately 50 youths will attend a Spring Break camp March 28 through April 1 for non-military youths and youths whose parents are stationed on one of the military installations in the state (Shaw AFB, Charleston AFB, Beaufort Navy/Marine Tri-Command, and Ft. Jackson), plus youths with parents in the Guard and Reserve.

“Many people ask what they can do to help with the war on terrorism,” said Brown. “This is something that we can all get involved with.”

For more information, go to the OMK website at http://www.usda-army-ydp.org/omk/.

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