The Joy Truck 4H Kids Project

At A Glance

Location: 

Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

Primary Issue Area:

  • Living Economies

Active since:

2019

  • The Joy Truck is parked in the middle of a grassy field in front of a row of houses along a railroad in a town called Derby. It is summer and the clouds are large and puffy and the dandelions are in bloom.
  • A young fashionista poses at the opening of the Joy Truck in a red jumper looking through a hand-made curtain
  • A large hand painted sign leans up against boxes of art supplies and the clothing rack inside the Joy Truck reading "Welcom to the Joy Truck Free Clothes, Resources and Art Supplies"
  • A photo showing the interior of the Joy Truck, a long space with library card catalog medicine and personal hygeine cabinet, a couch, materials and the clothing rack.
  • A photo taken from above of youth enjoying tacos, apples and juice during lunch.
  • In front of the Joy Truck and field kids play in the sun with a parachute game, a favorite 4H movement activity.
  • A photo taken from above of Joy Truck 4H Kids designing the poster for the Kids Only Art Show
  • A photo taken from above of youth spending time inside the Joy Truck working on sewing designs.
  • Three Joy Truck 4H kids sit in the sun drying their masks that were made collaboratively. In the distance the Pisctataquis County 4H flag.

Our Purpose

The Joy Truck 4H Kids Project is a collaborative, youth focused community resource center (in a remodeled Unifirst Delivery Truck!) in the heart of Brownville Junction, Maine. In partnership with Piscataquis County 4H, the American Legion Hall #92 and other community service organizations, youth and and their families co-create free all-ages skill building workshops and gatherings. The Joy Truck 4H emphasizes imagination, cooperation, expression and abundance in making do with what one's got; whether in creative, alternative education and arts based activities or the free distribution of material goods such as clothes for youth and adults, art and school supplies, games and personal hygeine items. For the neighborhood kids the Joy Truck 4H is "for everyone to hang out and learn stuff, to get out of the house and have fun time and to get off the electronics". This project continues to exist because of the shared belief that social change and ensuring needs are met can be joyous, and inspiring.