4-H cookies of appreciation go to 700 peace officers

The chief of police of Brownsville said he’s still amazed and humbled by what happened Oct. 10, the day officially known as One Day 4-H.

One Day 4-H was the Texas observance of national 4-H Week. Across the state, 4-H clubs were challenged to mark the event by carrying out a special project to benefit their community.

4-H is the youth program of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, said Luis Saldana, regional program director for 4-H and youth in South Texas.

"In Cameron County, some 40 members fanned out to distribute 3,500 cookies to 700 police officers to thank them for their service to the community," Saldana said.

One of the beneficiaries was the Brownsville Police Department.

"It was such a great gesture," said Carlos Garcia, Brownsville’s chief of police. "We were so honored and humbled that this younger generation would reach out to us in appreciation for what we do."

Attached to the bag of "pan de polvo" Mexican-style cookies was a card of thanks from the president of the Cameron County 4-H Council, Laurel Cantu, and a promotional flyer encouraging officers to recruit new 4-H members.

The bags went to police departments in communities throughout the county for officers that Cantu said require extensive training, education — and a big heart.

"Police officers were stunned when we showed up to give them their cookies," said Cantu, a 16-year old junior at Polished Cornerstone Academy in Los Fresnos. "They were all like, ‘Hey, there’s still hope for the young people out there.’"

Cantu and her mother brainstormed about the One Day 4-H project until they hit upon the idea of thanking law officers while promoting 4-H.

"We had to figure out how many cookies we needed, how to raise the money to buy them, then bag them and distribute them," she said. "Fortunately, the owner of Matamoros Bakery in Los Fresnos gave us a discount because this was a community project. That was a huge blessing. And he said our order of 3,500 cookies was the largest he’d ever had."

Cantu said the project was a lot of hard work, but also fun and exciting.

"It gave us a chance to tell these officers and others that 4-H isn’t just about raising farm animals and showing them at the livestock show," she said. "We’re very diversified. We model clothes, shoot guns and (do) archery. We do photography, sing, draw, play musical instruments, public speaking, and the scholarship opportunities are great. In fact, everyone in 4-H is college bound. It’s a great opportunity for kids."

Cantu said even her 8-year-old sister, Heather, is a member and has shown a knack for public speaking.

"4-H is an opportunity of a lifetime," Cantu said. "It’s changed my life for the better and made me what I am today."

Saldana said more than 10,000 4-H members participated in more than 325 different projects to benefit their Texas communities.

"In South Texas, we had 450 4-H members taking part in various community projects," he said. "In Willacy County, 4-Hers donated clothes to children in family crisis centers. In Brooks County they donated groceries to the needy. In other counties they picked up litter or honored veterans or visited nursing homes or helped at an animal shelter. Others collected canned goods for the Alice Food Pantry. So many 4-H members and adults did so many admirable projects. It was truly amazing and rewarding for everybody concerned."

Marco Ponce, an AgriLife Extension agent in Cameron County, said the Brownsville Police Department is one of the largest donors to the annual Cameron County 4-H Bay Fishing Tournament, the organization’s largest fundraiser.

In return, Garcia said, the 4-H members help out with the annual barbeque fundraiser for the police department’s Christmas for Kids toy giveaway.

"We’re always reaching out to the youth of our community and this time, these 4-H kids reached back. It was such an honor and so humbling."

For more information about 4-H, contact Saldana at 956-968-5581, or visit the AgriLife Extension District 12 Web site at http://www.southtexas.tamu.edu .