Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to help Northern Kentucky residents financially struggling to secure assistance for their family's immediate needs including food, hygiene items, cleaning products, household items, clothing, and baby items.

Helping Hearts hosts a weekly free fresh produce distribution to Northern Kentucky residents. The founder of the organization mentioned to me, "that the people who attend, often comment that they do not know how to use some of the fresh produce they receive (eggplant, peppers, zucchini etc.)".

The Boone County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program Assistant collaborated with Helping Hearts to fill this void. During a 4 part series, a group of 26 participants came to The Boone County Cooperative Extension Services Enrichment Center for sessions on budgeting, food safety, planning meals, how to read labels, eating more fruits and vegetables, and basic cooking skills which all relate to eating healthy using MyPlate guidelines. After being taught a lesson the participants moved to the kitchen, where they would follow a recipe, and prepare a healthy meals using some of the "unfamiliar" fresh produce (squash, zucchini, and peppers.)  

One participant commented, "I enjoyed the class, I was surprised how tasty the low cost new recipes were, and loved the hands on experience.  I learned simple tricks like how to cut an onion that I didn’t know before.” Participants showed 100% positive change in any food groups (Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy) at the exit questionnaires.

Because the nutrition series were such a huge success, Helping Hearts reached out to the Boone County Extension Homemakers organization to start beginning basic sewing classes for fifteen people from Helping Hearts. The fifteen participants learned how to make hems, blankets, and basic clothing repairs.  This too has been beneficial to the group. They are not only knowledgeable about cooking; they can now mend and make simple pieces of clothing.  These Life skills are like "teaching a person to fish rather than providing them with the fish", helping all to become more independent.