The 95th National Convention & Expo is hosting two on-site opportunities to serve within the Expo Hall that allow members to give back to communities in less than 45 minutes.
Each year during national convention, members have the opportunity to participate in a National Day of Service, but this year, alternative projects are available for members to utilize even within their busy schedules.
Partnering with Book Pillows for Hope and the Indy Humane Society, members are able to create and donate travel pillows and dog toys.
Book Pillows for Hope is an Indianapolis-based non-profit that donates to children in need from birth to 5th grade through fire and police departments, Ronald McDonald Houses, foster care and elementary schools within Marion County.
Attendees can visit the Living to Serve booth located in the Expo Hall and pick fabrics to make their pillows. Once the fabrics are cut, staff members sew the pieces together and members stuff and package their pillows.
From start to finish, students are seeing their efforts go directly back into the community.
“Going out and doing community service is not always feasible, but now students can know they have done and participated,” says Emily Backberg, an FFA advisor from Illinois.
Jennifer Williams, manager of local engagement for FFA, has hopes that these efforts will not stop in Indianapolis. “We always look for projects that we think members can take home and replicate in their home chapters,” she says. “It’s a way to put their leadership in action to take the things they learn in FFA and make a big impact in their community.”
National FFA has a goal of completing 1,400 travel pillows.
For the Animals, Too
Leftover pillow fabric will be used for another project: animal toys.
Also located in the Expo Hall, members have the opportunity to tie cloth dog bones and cat nip toys for the Indy Humane Society. Staff from the humane society will lead members through the project while providing information about how to assist their own humane societies with community needs back home.
In true FFA fashion, members are pleased to serve, even in a small way. Many plan to bring their new leadership skills back to their home chapters causing the ripple effect national FFA hoped for.
