Association for Home and Community Education
About Us:
Established on April 24, 1945, Jasper County HCE (formerly called Home
Bureau, Home Extension and Homemaker's Extension Association) is an
independent, not-for-profit organization which supports the
Clay/Effingham/Fayette/Jasper - University of Illinois Extension Unit.
From 1939 until April 1945, women from Jasper County originally were
members of Effingham County Home Bureau; however, as more women became
interested in joining, Jasper County made plans to form their own
organization.
Our first Executive Board Members (1945) were Vera Hetzer, Dorothy May,
Rose Apple, Nita Heady, Lela Ochs, Bernie Zuber and Lucy Trimble.
In the early years, our HCE Board Members met in the Jasper County Farm
Bureau on the square in downtown Newton, Illinois, and later at the
newly built Farm Bureau west of Newton on South Hutton Drive. Our next
move was to the Sunrise Community Center in Newton.
These ladies worked very hard to pave the way for us all through the
years to provide educational lessons and programs, service projects and
social activities to enhance the lives of members and all in the
community.
Today, our JCHCE Board meets monthly at the U of I Extension Office in
Newton, Illinois. We continue to carry on the spirit of home and
community education in our county that began many years ago.
Contact:
Judy Millsap, jammin0720@gmail.com (618) 455-3584
2024 Jasper County HCE Board Members:
| President | Judy Millsap | |
| 1st & 2nd Vice President | Marlene Harris | |
| Secretary/Public Information | Donna Richards | |
| Treasurer | Donna Richards | |
| 4-H, Family & Community | Martha Allison | |
| International & Cultural Enrichment |
Kathy Yager | |
| HCE Board Meetings: | 2nd Friday of each month at 9:30 A.M. at the U of I Extension Office, Newton, Illinois |
Upcoming Lessons for 2024 Year:
| January | Healthy Desserts | |
| February | I'm Positive, I'm Aging | |
| March | Planning to Eat Out | |
| April | All About Malaysia | |
| May | Mental Health Tips | |
| June | Charcuterie Board Night | |
| July/August | Summer Vacation | |
| September | All About Bees & Cooking with Honey | |
| October | Pillow Case Dress Project | |
| November | Bullying Among Older Adults | |
| December | Christmas Parties (Cookie exchange & share recipes) |
Service Projects:
| ● | Books 4 Beginners ... We purchase a book for each kindergartener in Jasper County. HCE members visit each class during HCE Week in October and read the book to the students. Then each kindergartener is presented with his/her own book to take home. Each classroom teacher also gets a book for the classroom. In 2023, 103 kindergarteners and 5 teachers/classrooms received a book. |
| ● | Toys For Kids ... We purchase Christmas gifts for children (age newborn to age 13) who qualify so that they may have gifts under their tree at Christmas time. In 2023, 245 children received gifts (95 families) to brighten their holidays. |
| ● | $500 Scholarship to the child/grandchild of a member of Jasper County HCE. The student with the highest GPA (Grade Point Average) wins. |
Fundraisers:
| March |
Cheesecakes and Cake Roll Sales, with proceeds going to "Support of Youth Activities" (Books for beginners and Scholarship Fund) | |
| October | Butter Braid Sales, with the proceeds going to the "Support of Youth Activities" (Books For Beginners, Toys For Kids, Scholarship Fund, etc.) | |
| October & November | RADA Cutlery Sales to the public with proceeds going to our Scholarship Fund. |
Jasper County Units and Meeting Information:
| Smallwood (12 members) |
Meets the 1st Thursday of each month, 11:00 A.M. at the Senior Citizen's Center in Newton, Illinois | |
| Sainte Marie (15 members if food lesson) |
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in member's homes. If the lesson is on food and a meal is planned, we meet at 6:30pm. | |
| Mailbox Members (27 members) |
Annual Meeting of Jasper County HCE:
The fourth Monday in April.
Annual Membership Dues: $20.00
Everyone, (women and men) are welcome to join a Unit or join as a Mail Box Member, which allows members to receive a monthly newsletter and lessons
in addition to attending all the educational programs of their choice.
Our Mission Statement:
Jasper County HCE enhances the lives of individuals and families through educational programs and experiences
that encourage responsible leadership and service to the community.