By: Mayla Odom
The Winston County Help Youth Group continues to grow and thrive as its leaders provide leadership, service, and community engagement. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, the WCSHC gathered for its monthly meeting. After a rainy week, the sun finally peeked through, setting the tone for the day’s activities.
Mayla Odom opened the meeting with a warm welcome and then provided an informative session on fire safety skills. She emphasized the important considerations when making a fire for cooking or ambiance. “First, maintain enough distance between the fire source and flammable materials. Always keep combustible material three feet away. Second, ensure the stove or fire source has a vent to prevent the buildup of smoke and harmful gases. Third, if you use any fuel or kerosene, store them in a well-ventilated area, such as a shed or garage. Fourth, NEVER leave the fire unattended; when you finish, completely extinguish the fire. Other key elements include never using accelerants, such as gasoline, to start a fire and avoiding burning plastic and other substances that produce toxic fumes.”
After Mayla wrapped up the fire safety lesson, Jonathan Evans invited the children to help assemble a rocket stove. The group collaborated to construct a simple yet effective outdoor stove using four cinder block bricks, charcoal, and metal grates.
Once the stove began to heat up, it was time for the fun: creating and cooking kabobs!
Everyone chose their ingredients from a selection of chicken, red and orange bell peppers, squash, and onions. They placed the kabobs over the grates, and although they took some time to cook, the children learned a valuable lesson in patience and the art of cooking over fire.
The experience required careful attention to maintain the correct temperature, which taught the youth and the adults the importance of focus and safety when working with outdoor stoves. With patience and time, the wait was over and worth it. The kabobs were delicious, and all the children were thrilled with the taste of the chicken.
Later, we decided to make s’mores under the open flame, and we all know that the children and adults enjoy a sweet treat. The day ended with full bellies and bright smiles.
For more photos, click here.
