By: Whitney Morrow
Carter County Extension Agent
October 9th-15th, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) celebrated KEHA Week across the Commonwealth. Established in 1932, the state organization’s 10,895 members are dedicated to learning, leading, and serving. Educational programs highlight topics including heritage skills, nurturing families, food safety, nutrition, reducing waste, leadership, avoiding scams, civic engagement, and many more.
The Carter County Extension Homemakers have over 100 members with 10 traditional clubs; Carter Caves, Denton/Willard, Grahn School Community Center, Grayson Day, Gregoryville, Hitchins, Lindsey-Pactolus, Grayson Sisters-at-Heart, Olive Hill Town and Country, Upper Tygart, and Wilson Stinson, and special interest club; Carter County Quilts for Veterans. Clubs meet monthly and you can also join as a mailbox members for only $8 a year. The current county officers are President Starlene Harris, VP Carol Ann Fraley, Treasurer Shirley Carra, and Secretary Sue Tackett.
Volunteer service is a strong emphasis in KEHA. Statewide, members annually report more than 400,000 volunteer hours in support of Extension and community projects with a value that exceeds $9.4 million dollars to the Commonwealth.
Since 1977, KEHA has actively supported the University of Kentucky Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Donations in the forty-four-year history of this project total more than $1.56 million.
Carter County Homemakers completed thousands of volunteer hours this past year. They volunteer to make lap quilts for foster children, serve in local food pantries, donate quilts for local veterans, sponsor Relay-for-Life, teach community classes, and volunteer for extension, church, and other community programs. The Carter County Homemakers have also hosted the annual Holiday Craft Fair for thirty years.
KEHA is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. The organization operates in partnership with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences work closely with KEHA members and clubs to provide educational programming and coordinate community activities.
To learn more about the Carter County Extension Homemakers, contact the Carter County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, Whitney Morrow at the Extension office at 474-6686. Follow Carter County Extension-Family and Consumer Sciences on Facebook for more programs and events.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
