In the 2019 Carlisle County Community Needs Assessment report, community members recognized "more senior citizen support programs" in their top areas of concern among Youth & Families. Combined with areas of concern regarding addressing and reducing chronic illnesses, the Carlisle County Cooperative Extension Service recognized an opportunity to provide nutritional information to Senior Citizens on a monthly basis. 

Carlisle County FCS Extension collaborated with the Carlisle County Senior Citizens Center to provide monthly recipe demonstrations and samplings of meals that are both nutritious and cost-effective. Using the 2024 NEP Calendar of Recipes, the group meets monthly to prepare and sample the "recipe of the month." During this time, the group discusses the nutritional content of the ingredients and where they can be sourced, or possible substitutions when sourcing is difficult. After sampling, the participants share their evaluation of the recipe and suggestions on how to improve or expand on it for home use. 

Participants often share that they are surprised how much they enjoy the final product, even if they were hesitant to sample. Notably, when the group prepared the February 2024 recipe, "Everything Tuna Melt," one participants remarked "I NEVER would have put these ingredients together, no one eats apples on tuna! ...but this is really good! I'm going to make them at home." 

Each month participation has grown, increasing from 4 participants in early programs to as many as 15 in recent months.