SCHOOL SUPPLIES DONATED — The Hancock County Community Educational Outreach Service brought school supplies to the July meeting to donate to the WVU Hancock County Extension’s Energy Express program. With the items are CEOS members, seated, Bonnie Ryan, and standing, from left, Roseanna Ash, Virginia Lawrence, Betty Wagner, Dinah Carpentr, Sue Isner, Laura Greathouse and Wendy Backus with Hancock County Extension Agent Carole Scheerbaum. -- Contributed

CHESTER — The July meeting of the Hancock County Community Educational Outreach Service was held July 1 at EJ’s Family Restaurant in Chester. Attending were 11 members and Extension Agent Carole Scheerbaum.

The devotion was given by Laura Greathouse, with a timely focus on the topics of American independence and liberty. Minutes of the June meeting were read and approved.

Under old business, the recent workshop on making jams and jellies was discussed. It was somewhat smaller than expected but participants nonetheless found it fun and helpful, and enjoyed taking home the jam they had made, it was noted.

The next workshop in the Garden to Pantry Food Preservation series will be “Water Bath and Pressure Canning,” which will be held on Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If enough interest is shown, a second class may be added on Aug. 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Those wishing to attend should contact the Extension Office at (304) 564-3805 as soon as possible, as class size is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $15 and includes all materials and supplies and a working lunch plus, attendees take home the produce they can.

During the meeting, CEOS volunteers made time to sign a large number of birthday cards. These will be donated to a local nursing home to be given to residents on the occasion of their birthday. Members also brought a quantity of school supplies to donate to WVU Hancock County Extension’s Energy Express program. These will be added to the school supplies gathered by Energy Express volunteers and distributed as part of their annual community service project.

It was decided the club’s August project will be collecting packages of new socks to be donated to local veterans.

The next meeting of the Hancock County CEOS will be on Aug. 5 at EJ’s, beginning at 11 a.m.