According to its website, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. County homemaker organizations provide leadership opportunities to its members through filling an office, teaching a lesson, chairing an activity, and being a part of many local associations. Most importantly, it provides companionship and lifelong friendships for most of its members.  

            Kenton County Extension Homemakers work closely with the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent to plan and carry out various activities for the community.  Fund raising activities, led by these leaders, continue to provide $2500 annually to local students for college scholarships. Kenton County homemakers have again, “stepped up to the plate” to be a part of the new KEHA leadership program, serve as Master Farm Homemaker members, KEHA state 4-H chairman, and serve as active county and area chairpersons.  Two Kenton Homemakers provided leadership to an area “healthy horticulture” workshop that not only provided great educational results to the participants, but was recently awarded 2^nd place nationally with the Extension FCS Extension Agents housing award. These ladies are also working with the Kenton County FCS agent to plan the first area fall “zoom” training for members in August.   

            A research study on loneliness that was released before the COVID-19 shutdowns found that 60% of adults report feeling lonely, and that loneliness and social isolation have been estimated to shorten a person’s life by 15 years. In addition, recent research on brain health reported by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension found that social connections continue to be important when we can’t be physically close.  All of us realize the extreme toll that that COVID-19 placed on each of us in so many ways – especially socially.  Once again, the Extension Homemakers provide opportunities for members to share and stay in touch.  The Kenton County Extension office has organized and provided opportunities to share through email and social media.   This sharing has resulted in great weekly correspondence with the 100+ members that have shared their emails with us. Kenton County also participated with the state KEHA spirit week, with a link of their many activities shared on our homemaker web page.  Members have made multiple masks for limited resource health clinic, local doctors, and of course to many individuals. Several members have remarked about how they appreciated the weekly sharing and keeping in touch through the homemakers and our Kenton County office.  Many have shared that our weekly email correspondence has been a highlight of their day.