Congress Links (Click to expand)
Hands to Service is an important tradition of North Carolina 4-H Congress. Held on Wednesday morning, these service projects connect delegates with local organizations throughout the Raleigh area, providing opportunities to give back while making a positive impact in the community. Other hands to service opportunities take place at other times throughout the week.
2026 4-H Congress Service Sites
JC Raulston Arboretum
Tour the arboretum and support its mission through hands-on horticultural projects, including planting, watering, mulching, and nursery work.
The ODD Sock
Help sort, pair, and package donated socks that will be distributed to nonprofit organizations serving individuals in need throughout the community.
Habitat for Humanity Thank You Bags
Create personalized thank-you bags and notes to recognize the volunteers who help build stronger communities through Habitat for Humanity.
Handmade Dog Toy Making
Craft dog toys from donated T-shirts and socks to support local animal shelters and rescue organizations.
2026 4-H Congress Donation Drive
As part of this year's Hands to Service activities, delegates are encouraged to bring donation items to Congress registration. To help coordinate collections, each district has been assigned specific items to bring.
Please note: All food items must be individually wrapped and single-serving.
| District | Donation Items |
|---|---|
| West | Nuts & candy |
| North Central | Crackers & dried fruit |
| South Central | Paper lunch bags & sweet snacks |
| Northeast | Old T-shirts & old socks |
| Southeast | Chips & hydration packets |
Additional Details
- Nuts: Individually packaged nut products such as peanuts, almonds, trail mix, etc. (keep items in original packaging with ingredient information visible)
- Dried fruit: Individually packaged dried fruit products such as raisins, cranberries, mangos, etc.
- Paper lunch bags: Empty brown paper SOS bags (bags only)
- Sweet snacks: Individually packaged treats such as Rice Krispies Treats, cookies, fruit snacks, etc.
- Old T-shirts & old socks: These items will be repurposed, so they do not need to be new or in perfect condition (clean items with minor wear are welcome)
- Hydration packets: Single-serving drink mix packets such as Liquid I.V., Propel, Gatorade, etc.
Contacts
