FCS, EFNEP/SNAP and Food and Nutrition Chair of the Bluegrass Region partnered together to plan, develop and implement a couponing and cooking on a budget for an organization called Young Lives. This organization focuses on young teen mothers here in Fayette County and providing them mentorship, guidance, and life skills as they are navigating motherhood. It was expressed to us by the organization leader, Tanya Lane, that a big priority that the mentors have noticed is a need for class on healthy eating and grocery shopping on a budget. Through the partnerships of  FCS, EFNEP/SNAP and the food and nutrition chair we establish a program with the following agenda 

July 6^th Program will begin at 4:30p ( Stage Kitchen/ Room B being utilized for the program, room for prep has been reserved beginning at 2:30pm)

Agenda with Flexibility

4:30p- Brief Introduction/ Sign In- Caroline and Maranda

4:35p- Printed Ad/ Digital Coupon Activity utilizing feedback from Mothers ingredients already at home and ingredients shopping list- Maranda and Caroline (supplies to get/use: Printed ads from Aldi’s/ Walmart/ Kroger, Digital Coupon upload: Kroger or Walmart, leaning more towards Walmart app)

5:15p-Food Safety Presentation- Handwashing/ Meat Temperature Safety- Barry

5:30p- Cooking Demo and Eating- Barry and Victoria (*towards end while eating, passing out good bags or have them at table while they are leaving, do drawing)

6:30p- Conclude

The program day had arrived which brought one challenge as during the start of the program the lights went out due to a storm. All of us leading the program did have a bit of panic, but we rally together and discuss alternative to maintain keeping the program going. We had most of the food prep that we had planned out to box up to go food plates and discuss the rest of our program and just to our surprise the light cut back on as well as we still were able to continue to keep right on schedule. 

The biggest success was hearing from the Young mothers that they would come and use some, if not all the skills they learned form this program, both verbal and through the post evaluations that were distributed.  

The Young mothers loved the goodie bag provided to them as well as getting the opportunity to take some yummy leftovers home with them. We look forward to hosting them for august programming and hopefully future programs.