The good people at the Merced County 4-H program are helping to return the “Friends Helping Friends” tour day during this year’s Merced County Fair in June.
This free event brings together young people and adults in the local community who are living with special needs and provides a fun day at the fair before the gates open to the general public.
It will be held on Friday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individual guests, organized groups and caregivers will receive guided tours, visits to fair exhibit buildings and the petting zoo, hands-on activities, music entertainment, and a free lunch courtesy of the Merced Elks Lodge.
The day takes great organization, and it couldn’t be accomplished without the dedicated volunteers at the Merced County 4-H — part of the University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources — and a small army of students from local 4-H and FFA clubs.
Interested participants and organizations are urged to register for the event online. Use the QR Code that is printed on this page with this article, or the following link to the online registration form: https://form.jotform.com/250485914607159.
The registration deadline is May 19 at 5 p.m. Assistance is available at the Merced County 4-H office, by calling (209) 385-7418.
4-H and FFA students can also sign up for the day and earn volunteer service hours. Merced County 4H will be sending out notices through posts on its Facebook site, as well as its website: merced4h.ucanr.edu
The Merced County 4-H Program has hosted “Friends Helping Friends” for more than 30 years, though it was paused last year as the program worked to boost volunteer numbers to keep the annual tradition going into the future.
Originally inspired by 4-H members raising Guide Dog Puppies, the “Friends Helping Friends” event is now held in partnership with the Merced County Fair that will be held this year from June 4 to June 8.