The Problem: In Leslie County and the entire Quicksand Area, many families struggle financially, especially during the holidays.  Providing the family with meals, decorations and more during the holidays often leads to overspending.  These pressures challenge many families who already struggle financially.

The Educational Program Response: To address this issue, the Quicksand Area Agents collectively developed the Holiday Road Show, a comprehensive educational and fun program aimed at helping families plan budget-friendly holiday meals and decorations. The program focused on teaching practical skills such as meal planning, budgeting, and crafting homemade decorations.

The Participants/Target Audience: The Holiday Road Show targeted families, homemakers, and individuals across the eight counties of the Quicksand Area. Participants came from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, but all shared a common desire to celebrate the holidays while planning early to manage financial costs.

Other Partners: The Quicksand Area Agents, consisting of Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe County Extension Offices.

Program Impact or Participant Response: Initial evaluations revealed the following results. A staggering 253 total participants with 85.4% who stated they could identify ways to save money when planning holiday meals, while 86.4% could develop a budget-friendly shopping plan. Furthermore, 86.9% of participants intended to create holiday menus using budget-friendly foods, and 81.7% planned to apply the five shopping trip strategies for budgeting in upcoming holidays. There were 382  booklets distributed, with a total of 192 recipes planned to be made along with 342 arts and crafts items planned to be made as well.

Impact Data from the 3-Month Follow-Up: The success of the program extended beyond the initial workshops. Three months later, over half of the evaluation respondents reported making positive financial decisions and implementing at least one money-saving strategy learned from the Holiday Road Show. The collective money saved due to the program amounted to an impressive $3,765, demonstrating its tangible and lasting impact on participants' financial well-being.

In conclusion, the Holiday Road Show participants learned practical tips and tricks for creating memorable holiday experiences without overspending. By equipping participants with practical skills and resources, the program not only empowered families to celebrate within their means but also fostered a sense of financial resilience that extended beyond the holiday season.