Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Operation: Military Kids is a Michigan Extension task

By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The author of a popular children’s book series is lending a hand to a Michigan program to help children and siblings of soldiers.
Johnathan Rand, author of the book series American Chillers, has donated some of his books to the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension 4-H Youth Development program’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK).
OMK is a nationwide initiative that supports children and siblings of deployed soldiers in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
Rand’s books will be included in OMK Hero Packs – backpacks loaded with books, writing paper, stuffed animals and journals.
“I get lots of requests for donations,” Rand said. When the OMK request came in, he thought it sounded “really cool.”
“The Hero Packs are a good way to get books to deserving kids,” said Rand, who lives in Topinabee, overlooking Mullett Lake, about a half-hour south of the Mackinac Bridge.
He and his wife, Boots, travel most of the school year giving talks to kids at schools and libraries.
“I talk about the importance of reading and writing,” explained Rand regarding their travels.
“Not everyone will be an author, but if you can read and write, you can do anything.”
He writes 10-12 books per year and said he has “the best job in the world.”
Sheila Smith, program leader for 4-H Youth Development and co-director of OMK, is pleased with Rand’s support of the program.
“The book donation by Johnathan Rand is a wonderful gift,” she said.
“These books will bring a smile to the kids involved in this program,” Smith said, noting that some books already have been distributed in the Hero Packs.
“The youth here in Michigan involved in this program live in civilian communities without the traditional military network of support for families,” Smith said. “The Hero Pack is just one important piece of the operation.”
OMK is a 4-H program which joins with the school and community to educate and facilitate so the public will be aware of what the children may be going through. Many children in Michigan have one and sometimes both parents called into action from one to eighteen months.
“This is about supporting children, youths and families. Our goal is to raise awareness of the issues that children and families are facing with not just one deployment, but also multiple deployments,” Smith said.
Michigan’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK) is funded by a grant from the Army’s Child and Youth Services to MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development.
This is the third year of funding for OMK. OMK partners in addition to MSU Extension are the Michigan National Guard, Michigan units of the Army Reserve, the American Legion of Michigan, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Disabled American Veterans and the Michigan 4C Assoc. (Community Coordinated Child Care).
OMK is an expansion of 4-H’s 12-year partnership with the Army that has created more than 300 4-H clubs on army installations in locations around the world.
One of those clubs is at Selfridge Air National Guard base in Michigan. Michigan 4-H clubs are involved in OMK efforts, including writing letters to include in the Hero Packs, assembling and distributing Hero Packs, sponsoring youth speakers, helping military youth stay in touch with deployed family members and conducting fund-raisers to support OMK efforts.
Visit http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/ youth/omk to learn more about Operation: Military Kids.

5/14/2008