The Kum Join Us Homemakers met Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church Borchers with Ruth Ann Hendrix serving as hostess.
Ten members were present with two guests attending, Bethany Cox, who recently moved to Jackson County from Colorado, and Misty Stuckwisch. Both were invited by Hendrix.
The meeting opened with the club creed and the Pledge of Allegiance being recited. The roll call question this month was “What was your first favorite book?” Answers ranged from the Bible to “The Bobsey Twins,” “Nancy Drew” and “Ramona” by Beverly Cleary.
The August secretary’s report was read by Karen Hendrix, and Michelle Wood reported on the club’s treasury funds.
Members discussed the yearly bake sale planned for Nov. 5 at St. Ambrose School during the craft fair.
Members from every homemakers club across the county will make or bake anything from cakes, pies, fudge, cookies and candies to enjoy while shopping the craft fair or take home to share with their families.
All proceeds from the bake sale will fund a $500 scholarship, which is the county homemakers’ major fundraiser for the year. To apply for this scholarship, students may call the Purdue Extension Jackson County office at 812-358-6101 or speak with their school counselor for information.
A volunteer is needed to coordinate this year’s bake sale. Ruby Niccum, who has held this position for many years, is ready to pass her knowledge of a successful sale to the next volunteer.
Volunteers also are needed to work the table that day to answer questions about the county’s homemakers clubs and sell the baked goods prepared and donated by our countywide members so that we can meet our scholarship goal.
The Fall Fling is planned for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Brownstown Christian Church. A pitch-in dinner will be served and ready to eat at 6:30 p.m. Anyone attending is asked to bring a food item to share. Nonperishable food items, toilet paper or paper towels also will be collected for our food pantries.
Our homemakers support many worthwhile causes, including Lutheran World Relief and Jackson County food pantries. We are currently researching shoeboxes to see which is the best to support.
This month, Ruth Ann Hendrix is donating black pens for the school kits put together by Borchers member donations.
Mandy Otte presented our lesson about pollinators with information from the National Honey Board she received at the Indiana State Fair and Purdue Extension. One-third of the population’s diet in the U.S. is derived from pollinated plants, and honey bees are responsible for 80% of that process.
Honey bees visit millions of plants in their lifetimes, collecting nectar to take back to the hive, where it is naturally broken down into simple sugars. Within the hive, worker bees, drones and a queen work together to create a perfect environment for producing all-natural honey.
Honey bees work tirelessly, visiting countless sources of nectar. This is what determines the color and flavor of the honey. Honey also comes in various forms, including liquid, creamed and comb. You can visit edustore.purdue.edu for information on what to plant in your gardens to help pollinators in your area.
Progress of the state project of 1000 Hearts, a kindness project, was discussed. Members reported on how many hearts they had completed. Some members showed those present the hearts they had completed using their own flair of adding buttons or loops to hang their hearts from.
Our devotions were read by Ruth Ann Hendrix on finding joy and purpose. In the midst of lists upon lists that compete for our attention, if we listen for the call of the living God, we will hear his voice, perhaps inside us, perhaps in a neighbor in need, calling forth that gift that is ours to share, joy.
A call to help one of our own was announced. A past member is in need of help with meals and light housework during her recovery from an injury. Anyone with questions or wanting to help may contact Trish Tangman at the Borchers office at 812-522-7364.