In the efforts to help our community, the Knott County Extension Agricultural and Natural Resource (ANR) Agent provides an annual gardening programs in the spring. However, with this year's spring season, the COVID-19 Pandemic caused the traditional home gardening workshops to be canceled and then revised. As the pandemic has affected the food demand, and the rising cost of food, many folks in our area are making plans to begin gardening or to expand their existing gardens. As the agent saw the need to help our community raise more fresh produce, a drive-thru gardening starter kit give-a-way was created for the Knott County Citizens.

The kits included various educational supplies needed to help each in the planning and growing phases of their gardens. For instance, each kit contained the UK home gardening publication, SNAP gardening calendar, and various gardening seeds. In promoting this event, social media was utilized, a Facebook flyer style post to a couple of pre-recorded invite and informational video posts. Each provided the audience with the details on how they could participate in the give-a-way. Overall, the various Facebook post reached over 2,000 people by them viewing the posts and received over 200 likes, comments, and shares overall regarding the event. 

During the planning phase of this year's give-a-way, it took hours of preparation not only by the ANR Agent but also by the assistance of the extension program assistant. The teamwork provided a smooth and successful flowing drive-thru, all while continuing to strictly follow the safety protocols enforced by the CDC towards the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Gardening Kit give-a-way was held on Wednesday, April 8th, were 100 kits were available, and within two hours, all of them were distributed to various community members. Providing this opportunity, we are helping at least 100 families to fill the need of food securities this summer. Also, the ANR agent shared additional information in several instances to participants to assist them in being successful gardeners. The plans are to keep providing various informational videos via Facebook, extension website, and our local newspaper to help gardeners with different gardening content areas.