Connor Miller and Riley McCourry (pictured) gave back to their community by collecting bird-related donations to make Mitchell House residents smile. The two are leaders in the local 4-H Shooting Sports Club.
Leaders of the Mitchell Mountaineers 4-H Shooting Sports Club are doing their best to give back to the community.
Connor Miller, president, and Riley McCourry, philanthropy chair, were recently tasked with finding a way to give back.
After several months of planning, they launched their Bird Buddies program.
With the help of their families, the two started asking Mitchell residents for donations to benefit residents of the Mitchell House.
“We just left school one day and started stopping at houses,” McCourry said. “We had made a flier that explained what we were doing so people would know we were legit.”
The boys continued collecting monetary donations and various bird items such as feeders, seeds and nectar from households, other club members and local businesses.
“Initially, the plan was to place those suction cup hummingbird feeders on the residents’ windows,” Miller said. “But with the outpouring of donations, we have been able to expand the Bird Buddies to include decks of bird playing cards, puzzles, games, books, coloring pages and even some small bird houses for the residents to paint.”
The supplies were delivered to Mitchell House this past month. Miller and McCourry made cards for each resident inviting them to join in the Bird Buddies festivities.
The club is also planning an ice cream social with the Mitchell House residents at a later date.