According to the Kentucky Department of Education School Report Card on Homelessness for 2023-2024, More than 63% of students at Ft. Wright Elementary School are considered economically disadvantaged, and 6.3% are experiencing homelessness, making it especially important to equip families with tools to stretch limited food budgets and access reliable nutrition education. Programs like SNAP-Ed, which teach practical strategies for maximizing food resources, and 4-H youth development, which offers positive, skill-building opportunities, are vital in supporting the health and well-being of this community. There was a clear need to connect families with these resources during the Ft. Wright Family Wellness Night. To address this need, Kenton Co. 4-H partnered with Kenton Co. NEP  Senior Assistant to host two tables at the Ft. Wright Family Wellness Night. Their collaborative outreach included the following:

• A smoothie bike to engage children and promote healthy eating through interactive learning
• SNAP-Ed calendars and recipe cards offering budget-friendly, nutritious meal ideas
• Farmer’s market information to increase awareness of local food access points
• Food Safety tools, including refrigerator thermometers
• 4-H Club and summer camp materials to encourage youth participation in positive, skill-building activities

This hands-on, family-friendly approach helped bridge the gap between nutrition education and youth development resources.

The event targeted families within the Ft. Wright Community, and it reached 55 participants over an hour and a half period, including

• 49 females and 6 males, primarily parents, caregivers, and elementary-aged children
• 30 SNAP-Ed direct education contacts were made with youth ages 11–13
• 25 SNAP-Ed direct education contacts were made with adults ages 18–59
• Approximately 80 SNAP-Ed indirect contacts were made via recipe cards and recipe calendars

The audience represented a diverse cross-section of the school community, many of whom were unfamiliar with SNAP-Ed or 4-H resources prior to the event.

Informal evaluation and participant feedback indicated strong engagement and increased awareness:

• Approximately 50% of families expressed interest in receiving more information about 4-H clubs or summer camps
• Over 40 recipe cards and SNAP calendars were taken home, resulting in increased access to nutritious recipes
• Participants left with an increased awareness of SNAP-Ed resources offered by Kenton Co. Extension staff
• Participants left better informed about local farmers markets 
• School staff and other booths noted that the smoothie bike was a major attraction, sparking conversations about healthy habits among students

This outreach effort successfully connected families with valuable community resources, promoted healthy lifestyle choices, and increased visibility for both SNAP-Ed and 4-H programming in the school community.

Sources:

Kentucky Department of Education. (2023-2024). School report card: Data download. https://reportcard.kyschools.us/data-download?pid=c340f7d5-efbd-5fb8-cab8-3a128835f84c