Hunger in America is a concerning issue that requires a serious response. According to the USDA, more than thirty four million people, including nine million children, in the United States are food insecure. While every community in the country is home to families who face hunger, rural communities are especially affected by this. In these rural areas, many people lack enough resources to obtain the food they need due to factors including financial insecurity, transportation barriers, and limited access to affordable food.

This year, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program partnered with Hope in the Mountains. The Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum was used. There are two lessons within the curriculum that stood out to clientele. The first is “Meal Planning for Every Body”. As the title suggests, this lesson covers the benefits of meal planning, tips, and serving size suggestions. The second lesson is “Eating Better on a Budget for Every Body”. This lesson demonstrates ways to eat well and healthy while money is tight, grocery shopping advice, as well as food storage tips. Both lessons really resonated with the participants. At the end of each session, everyone was sharing their own tips and tricks that they implement with their families. 

Upon completion of the program, ninety percent of graduates showed improvement in overall food resource management skills. Furthermore, ninety percent of graduates cook dinner at home more times per week, and eighty percent of graduates now are able to budget enough money for food purchases.