BasehorInfo.com

One hundred and six Leavenworth County 4-H members and friends recently attended 4-H County Camp at the Rock Springs 4-H Center.

As part of a 10-county 4-H camp group, participants were encouraged to tuck in a can of tuna for a local food pantry with their camp gear. The camp yielded 566 cans.

The food was gathered early on the day that tornadoes struck nearby communities, said Beth Hecht, organizer of the food drive and the 4-H youth development educator for Kansas State University Research and Extension in Leavenworth County.

The cans went to Geary County Emergency Services for distribution to communities impacted by storms, Hecht said.

"Asking campers to choose and donate products for others serves as a lesson in practicing citizenship and building community that can benefit the recipients and the donors," she said. "We make the food drive fun."

Canned tuna was selected this year to coordinate with the camp theme of tuna.

Leavenworth County 4-H is a part of a camp group with Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Coffey, Jackson, Jefferson, Linn, Nemaha and Woodson counties. The Storage Box, Louis Klemp, Reece & Nichols Cross Creek Realty and the Leavenworth County 4-H Foundation supported the camping program.

Those interested in learning more about 4-H and its camping opportunities can check out the Web site www.leavenworth.ksu.edu or contact the K-State Research and Extension, Leavenworth County Office (913) 250-2300 or visit the office at 500 Eisenhower Rd., Suite 103, Leavenworth.