I am Lillian Clark Edney, a career volunteer. I have been actively involved in volunteering since l gained the status of “retired educator” in 1999. That was the year I joined Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers. I have never looked back nor have I regretted the day I joined. I am a member of Catherine Williams Mississippi Homemaker Club (one of the five in Adams County.)

Adams County Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers have had a very successful year. The membership is down, but work ethic is up and volunteering has been full speed ahead because the remaining members are motivated to help others.

I am secretary of the Catherine Williams MHV Club, vice president of Adams County MHV Council and I am chairman of the International Committee of Adams County MHV Council.

One might wonder how one person has time to wear so many hats, but that’s not all I do for Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers. On the state level, I am the secretary, I represent the southwest area (made up of nine counties), on the history committee as a forms senior director and a member of the community special issues committee.

When one takes the initiative to volunteer, sometimes you forget how to say “No” but you say “yes, I know.” This happens especially when you enjoy what you are doing and the people with whom you are working.

Projects of which there have been involvement this year have included but not limited to: making 65 caps for children at Blair E. Batson Children›s Hospital in Jackson, 21 dresses for the International Project (girls in Nicaragua, Haiti and Honduras), wheel chair bags, tote bags, collecting toiletries for three local nursing facilities, 13 teddy bears for the Mississippi Highway Patrol (given to children involved in accidents, donated school supplies, made pillowcases for a national project “Ari’s Pillowcases” (including St. Jude in Memphis, Blair E. Batson in  Jackson and Children’s Hospital in New Orleans) and set up a display at Armstrong Library making the community aware of the presence and involvement of Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers in area.

Thousands of volunteer hours have been contributed by Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, and thousands of dollars have been saved by the community, state and nation through our efforts.

There is still so much one can do, and many members in our council have been volunteering also. The smiles you see on the faces when you present the items is just beyond words. The joy that one receives is far greater than the joy the receivers have.

The most recent local project involved making throws or shoulder wraps for the three nursing homes in the Natchez area.

Recently, I attended the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteer mid-Winter Board meeting in Jackson and will be attending the Mississippi State Council at Mississippi State University.

My year would truly be fulfilled if I could recruit at least 10 people. You do not have to be retired as I am. You could be a mailbox member.

That is one who (male or female) supports the projects financially, receives all information (by UPS mail and/or e-mail) and attends any meetings held at non-working hours.

There are three males in my club. Hopefully the supervisors and aldermen and alder women will join. This is the case in many of the other counties.

If you cannot find the effort or time to join Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers you might want to be an awards sponsor.

You can call the Extension Office to get the details at 601-445-8201. The office manager — a member of my club — will give you the details.

It will be a telephone call you will never regret having made.

Hopefully, there will be at least 10 people joining, and there will be many hours of joyous volunteering. Think Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers and complete your volunteer experience.

 

Lillian Clark Edney is a member of Catherine Williams Mississippi Homemaker Club.