The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) senior Assistant and the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Agent viewed the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to educate during a time of uncertainty. Their goal was to respond to food insecurity and the potential long-lasting effects of economic downturns. The SNAP-Ed senior Assistant and ANR Agent, in an effort to teach sustainability and self-sufficiency through gardening, mailed out over 1025 seed packets and information. The seed packets were a variety of lettuce, peppers, zucchini, squash, herb, and tomato seeds. The mail out also had information on how to plant a garden and provided gardening gloves. Also, there were 40 Victory Garden kits picked up safely outside the Extension Office. Families received folders with all planting information, seed packets, and 2 growing bags full of soil.

The success of families planting seeds, tasting the vegetables they grew, and learning new ways to prepare them will hopefully inspire a desire to plant and learn more about gardening. In the long-term, this could help combat food insecurity in Lawrence County.