With nearly 3,500 members statewide, the Oklahoma Home and Community Education, Inc. (OHCE), organization continues to make a positive impact on residents and helps them live their best lives through education and service.
Whether it is community beautification, tutoring students, supporting veterans, providing educational scholarships or supporting local 4- H’ers and other groups, OHCE has a hand in many different things going on in communities across the state and their contributions are significant. Established in 1935, the group will celebrate its service to Oklahoma families and communities during Oklahoma Home and Community Education Week, slated May 1-7.
Service to community is a big part of the OHCE group, and with the organization being 3,500 members strong, their impact is felt in large and small communities alike. According to its website, the organization’s ultimate mission is to “educate its members to be well-informed and able to handle changes in their homes and communities.”
Through its close relationship with the OSU Cooperative Extension Service, which is headquartered at Oklahoma State University, group members translate that vision into reality by learning, then sharing, research-based information on a wide variety of topics.
OHCE covers a broad spectrum of concern in Oklahoma’s communities, including health, family, finance, community and more. With the partnership with Extension, members have access to research-based information in these areas. This definitely sets them apart from other organizations. Also, members play a vital role in communities because, especially in the smaller towns, there may not be very many resources available. OHCE is able to open up more resources and educational opportunities that can help many of our state’s families.
OHCE members know and understand the importance of adapting to change and continuing to provide valuable information as populations in rural areas may be declining and city populations grow.
OHCE advisors know that people can’t stay focused on the things we used to focus on. We have to expand our resources to meet changing needs. For example, we need to learn new ways to grow a garden for those who may live in the city with just a balcony for outdoor space. We must stay relevant for our audience.
OHCE members definitely are making a difference in their communities. Just a few impressive numbers statewide include donating $152,000 worth of books, clothing and other goods; planting over $10,000 worth of plants, trees and shrubs; contributing 31,856 volunteer hours with an economic value of more than threequarters of a million dollars, through activities such as nursing home visits, reading and tutoring; and have contributed an impressive $67,500 in educational scholarships to 4-H members and other students across the state.
And, it does not stop there. As strong supporters of military personnel and their families in Oklahoma, group members have spent more than 300 volunteer hours and over $9,500 compiling care packages for service men and women. Some groups across the state share their sewing talents and create Quilts of Valor that are given to local veterans. In addition, the group also has contributed $9,000 in support of 4-H program and activities, as well as donated $20,000 to Oklahoma communities for various projects.
In addition, county based OHCE groups work with family and consumer sciences Extension educators in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, as well as district and state Cooperative Extension specialists, to identify local issues, develop educational programming and launch service projects to help families and communities address their concerns.
Although OHCE primarily focuses its good works on Oklahoma, it’s affiliated nationally with the Country Women’s Council of USA and internationally with The Associated Country Women of the World.
One state board member recently stated that “I’ve been a member for 18 years and it has changed my life. I’ve learned things I likely wouldn’t know if not a member. If you’re looking for a place to meet people with similar interests and have a desire to help others, Oklahoma Home and Community Education might just be what you’re looking for. Contact your local county OSU Cooperative Extension office and ask to get connected with a group in your area. You won’t be sorry.”