HANCOCK COUNTY — There’s no stopping an idea. Just ask Vickie Ramsey and Cathy Logan, adult leaders of the Country Kritters 4-H club.
In April, three fifth-grade boys stepped up to volunteer to be the fundraising team for the Country Kritters. Ramsey’s initial thought was that the three had no clue what was involved in fundraising or how to go about it.
Three months later, Elijah Edon, Eli Manship and Christian Whisman have raised more than $1,000 for the Riley Settergren 4-H Memorial Scholarship.
Ramsey was impressed when the boys brought her a compiled list of 10 to 15 ideas for raising money. The club voted and selected two restaurants — Montana Mike’s and Dairy Queen — to approach for help in creating the popular dine-to-donate fundraisers.
The boys called the restaurant managers and set up times to meet with them to discuss the fundraising options for the club. Rob Davis, Montana Mike’s manager, was impressed and told the boys it was the first time kids, rather than adults, came to him wanting to organize a fundraiser.
On April 17, the club held a dine-to-donate fundraiser at Montana Mike’s. The three boys greeted each guest, introduced themselves and explained the impetus behind the fundraiser. Montana Mike’s staff agreed it was the busiest Wednesday in a long time; the event raised $353.
The boys went on to raise another $700 from a fundraiser at Dairy Queen, from doughnut sales and from miscellaneous donations.
“I don’t think our youth get enough recognition,” Ramsey said. “I’m bursting with pride.”
The funds raised by Edon, Manship and Whisman will go toward the Riley Settergren 4-H Memorial Scholarship. Settergren was an Eastern Hancock High School senior and a 10-year 4-H member of the Country Kritters 4-H Club who lost his life in a car accident in 2017.
