HCE makes a difference in area communities

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HCE stands for Home, Community, Education.

St. Croix County HCE members are associated with WAHCE, the Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education Inc.

The group’s motto is “Caring to make a difference in our homes, communities and world.”

Nov. 7-11 is HCE Week.

There are 17 clubs of members and several individual members in St. Croix County volunteering their time to provide continuing education for members and others on issues that will strengthen families and communities, develop and improve leadership skills, and promote friendships and understanding with all people of the world.

Several members attend the state convention in September and bring back ideas for cultural arts projects, home improvement and gardening projects, health issues, relationships, and many more ideas that are then shared throughout the following year.

On Nov. 10, there will be a couponing workshop presented on saving grocery money, held at the Ag Center (extension office meeting room) in Baldwin. Several women made rhubarb-leaf birdbaths this past spring.

Planning for 2012 events was held on Nov. 8, with many ideas being submitted, including women’s health issues.

“Love Bags” filled with items for families in need were packed this past year and knit blankets were made to give to police officers to use when having to pick up children.

Members are readers in the BookWorms project, providing thousands of books to children in Wisconsin.

Social events are held on the club, county and state level, including tours to various businesses, parks, theaters, etc. You can meet people, make new friends, develop personal talents, and improve leadership skills by joining a club in your community or as an individual member in the county.

For more information, contact our county membership chairman Phoebe Shourds, 715-425-8857, pnpaulson@yahoo.com or contact any member of HCE in your community. Joan Sprain, Family Living Agent with UW-Extension in Baldwin is the HCE County advisor.

Tags: rural scene, agriculture, home