4-H'ers Make a Difference in Elkhart
Published: Friday, February 20, 2026
Five members of the Clever Clovers 4-H club, accompanied by their parents, their 4-H leader and another volunteer, last Saturday handed out care packages to Elkhart's homeless and at-risk population.
After meeting in the basement of the Elkhart Public Library, the 13 individuals walked the streets of Elkhart searching for people to serve. They pulled two wagons filled with hats, socks, gloves, snacks and 20 bags of hygiene products and other essentials. They gave a cup of hot chocolate to every person they encountered. Each visit ended with a prayer.
Penny Anderson, the club's 4-H leader, and her husband, Bruce, have worked with the homeless before. Prior to hitting the streets, Penny talked to the 4-H'ers—five teenage girls bent on changing their community—about what to expect.
"Just think, if you have lived out on the street for two months," she said. "Just think, in the last couple weeks when it's been so cold, would you be—. 'Oh, hi, I'm so glad to see you today!' We do not know how people are going to take us."
She asked the 4-H'ers to list the reasons why people are homeless. The answers ranged from addiction and abuse to divorce and not enough money to afford rent.
The city of Elkhart has several homeless shelters, but Anderson pointed out that those places forbid drug or alcohol use. Those who violate the rules have to leave.
She talked about how to recognize a homeless person. Such individuals may be pushing a grocery cart or possess certain items indicating their situation.
Arianna Munet, a volunteer, joined the 4-H'ers and their parents on this service project. Munet volunteers for a ministry that works with the homeless population. She advised the 4-H'ers to be encouraging. Even if the youths say the wrong thing, the homeless person will hopefully see their generosity and heart's intent.
"Just go up to people and share the love of Christ," she said. "I think people see that through you."
During the two-hour walk, the 4-H'ers searched for people on the streets, while on other occasions, the homeless found them. Such was the case with the first person they served: a woman standing less than 10 feet outside the library's main entrance.
Anderson shared that many homeless people visit the library. It's located along the bus stop, and inside there is a tree with hats and gloves. She said a group of women regularly visit the library to knit those items for people in need.
"Every day, people come in and take things off that tree," she said.
After praying with the woman outside the library, the group headed south on Main Street. They encountered a man walking with a cane. He described himself as "a broken, middle-aged man." Anderson replied that "we're all broken."
The 4-H'ers and their parents listened as he shared his story: a motorcycle accident resulting in brain surgery. He still has seizures.
Anderson shared that the man said he was hoping that someone would show him love that day.
Earlier, the 4-H'ers were asked to explain why they wanted to help the homeless, especially on Valentine's Day.
"Because it's a day to love people and to be kind to people," said Emily McLeod, a seven-year 4-H'er from South Bend.
According to Anderson, the idea of serving the homeless originated with the 4-H'ers themselves. Back in October, they heard a speaker talk about butterflies.
"One butterfly does nothing, but when you have thousands it can start a tsunami," she said. "It was a very powerful speech."
The 4-H'ers recorded ideas in a notebook and "just brainstormed," Anderson said. From that list, the 4-H'ers settled on the idea of serving the homeless.
"And that was actually Nevaeh's idea," Anderson said.
Nevaeh Harrison, a seven-year 4-H'er from Elkhart, is president of Clever Clovers. She explained why she feels so strongly about helping the less fortunate.
"Whenever we come here in downtown Elkhart, there are so many homeless people," she said. "They camp out and look like they need help and stuff. So I'm like, we should actually get together, get a big group of us and go out and help them."
She and five other youths stepped up to the challenge. The other 4-H'ers included: McLeod, who is the club's vice president; Ashlynn Sessler, an eight-year 4-H'er from Elkhart; Taleigh Wyman, a first-year 4-H'er from Elkhart; and Addy Gerig, Penny's granddaughter and a third-year 4-H'er from Goshen.
One youth couldn't participate last Saturday due to a funeral.
Sessler said she was helping out because she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and express her leadership skills.
"That's what 4-H is about —going out and being a leader to others and influencing others," she said.
The 4-H'ers turned and walked east on Lexington Avenue, encountering a bearded man sitting on a perch in front of a store. They chatted with him for a few minutes before praying with him and moving toward the RiverWalk.
The RiverWalk is a nice path for walking, running or biking. However, there is one place under a bridge where the homeless tend to hang out, despite the "No Camping" sign. On this mid-February morning, there was no one there. The group then moved further north to the confluence of the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers. Some of the parents looked across the river to Island Park but didn't see anyone in need of services.
So, the group turned around and headed south on Waterfall Drive, then west on High Street and back to Main. They approached the Elkhart Civic Plaza, which has the iconic clock tower, and encountered a man at the intersection of Main and Franklin streets.
Anderson asked him if he needed anything. He said he wasn't homeless but was "just walking around." He was trying to get away from a domestic situation involving his brother.
The 4-H'ers gave him some hot chocolate and a bag of essentials. The conversation continued for a long time, so part of the group left while two adults finished chatting with the man.
The two adults were able to catch up with the other 11 and proceeded down Franklin Street to Second Street. They eventually approached one of the stops for the Interurban Trolley, where a bus was taking on passengers.
Anderson reached the bus stop before the others and learned from the driver that there were several passengers who might be in need of services. She made a motion for the group to hurry, as the bus was preparing to depart. The rest of the 4-H group arrived with the two wagons, which were still mostly filled with supplies.
Harrison and McLeod grabbed some water bottles and bags and gave them to four passengers. The two 4-H'ers later said this was one of the most gratifying moments of their service project, as the recipients of their charity smiled at them.
The bus stop proved to be the busiest location for the 4-H youths and their parents. There was a woman who said she was traveling to Chicago. Another woman started a conversation with one of the parents that continued for a half hour. There was a man who accepted a water bottle. Others seemed interested in what the 4-H'ers were doing. One person had never heard about 4-H.
These people may not have been homeless, but, based on their reactions to the 4-H'ers, they were certainly appreciative.
The 4-H'ers handed out the rest of their care packages, and Bruce, a former marathon runner, dashed back to the library to get more supplies. He returned just in time to serve several passengers before the next bus departed.
With the service project nearing completion, the 4-H'ers were asked to sum up their experience.
Harrison said she was surprised by the positive reactions from most people.
"Everyone I met was really loving," she said.
In the 4-H motto that is recited before every 4-H meeting, young people pledge their head to clearer thinking, their heart to greater loyalty, their hands to larger service, and their health to better living. They do all of this for the benefit of their club, community, country and world.
Those words came to mind as Harrison reflected on the day of service to her community. She and her peers walked around Elkhart with the purpose of blessing the less fortunate, but she said the 4-H'ers also found themselves receiving something intangible in return: love and kindness.
When asked what advice she would give to other 4-H'ers considering a service project, Harrison urged them to be bold.
"Go out in your community and give your heart out to people," she said.
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