Why Should You Join EHC?

by Nancy Hightower - May 26, 2022

Extension Homemakers Council started in Mabelvale, AR in 1912 as a canning club. The intent behind EHC was to use it as an avenue for informal education for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. It worked, but it quickly became evident that food preservation education wasn’t the only form of education that homemakers at the time needed and the program began teaching other things and responding to community needs.

As years passed, EHC adapted the education they offered to meet the needs of the times and specific communities as well as the state as whole. Many started to participate in EHC and it grew to become the organization that it is today.

Today, EHC has three pillars of focus: informal education, developing leadership skills, and community service. Their most recent statewide community service project was food insecurity in which clubs worked closely with food pantries and other organizations to raise over 2 million meals to feed Arkansans in need.

EHC isn’t just beneficial for the state or groups of people, however. EHC also beneficial to the individuals that are members.

How is EHC beneficial to members?

Education

EHC offers informal education in an array of topics including health and wellbeing, family life, nutrition, and personal resource management. Other things you may learn include life skills such as sewing, cooking, using technology, and so much more.

Develop Leadership Skills

Due to the many opportunities to organize an event or be in a club or county officer position, EHC members have the pleasure of developing leadership skills within their clubs, counties, and can run for EHC state office.

Making a Difference

EHC members have a heart for service. Big or small, meeting the needs of the community is one of the great impacts that EHC has in the state of Arkansas. Not only does this service help the state and local communities, but helping others also creates a way for members to grow together, form their own connections with one another, and bond. Which brings us to…

Friends and Community

Being an EHC member means there are other people with similar interests, hobbies, and ideas as you. Social connection is important throughout life, but as we age it is increasingly important. Social interaction helps keep our minds sharp and helps us better handle health issues and life changes. Not to mention, everything is better with friends!

EHC is Fun!

There is so much to do in EHC! Club meetings, district and state events, volunteer work, activities and projects, educational lessons, community work, supporting other Cooperative Extension programs, and having a group of friends to do it all with is such a good time!

This isn’t a full list of benefits you get when becoming and EHC member, but it is a few things to get you started! EHC is all about empowerment and improving the quality of life for yourself and those around you. There’s always something going on, always someone to meet, and always joy to be had.

“Friendship is a sheltering tree.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge