During the challenging times, each week the Wolfe County Extension Office, Wolfe County Family Resource, Red River Valley Family Resource and Wolfe County Youth Service Center worked diligently together to provide Take Home Activity bags. We targeted school aged youth in our community and placed 5-7 activities in each bag. We had a theme for each bag and we each came up with an activity, craft, recipe, etc that fit that theme. We dispersed 250-285 bags each week having the children sign them out. Survey data reported that they were a benefit to families during this difficult time when parents were struggling to adapt to life as we now know it. Data reported below:

100% indicated that they themselves learned a knew skill

94.12% indicated that were making healthy lifestyle choices as a result of the activity bags.

100% reported that they were now engaging in more quality time together.  

87.5% are currently putting into practice some stress management techniques as suggested by my county Extension Office.

 92.31% stated that their children had learned a new skill.

92.68% indicated that their children's non-traditional instructional experience has been enhanced (while out of school during the pandemic) by the activity bags. 

Additionally, the survey gave the opportunity to share any other benefits gained from the resources provided in the activity bags. The additional comments are listed below:

-healthy food tips, food safety

-My timid daughter is interested in possibly coming to 4-H now

-My kids learned to do things independently

-More family time. Most bags that we received was a family effort

-made it easy to do crafts/spend quality time with my children not needing to go into stores to buy materials for projects

-reminder of drinking water, wearing sunscreen, and hat outside. Healthy snack recipe and ingredients, science experiment. vegetable seeds

-they also provided free books for children to read. 

-I learned a new skill

-These projects made them more aware of gardening and how plants grow food. 

-Lots of family time and fun activities for the kids to learn. 

Lastly they were asked what other ways your local Extension Office has been helpful to you or your family during the pandemic. The responses are listed below:

-Grandparents received Commodity Food box from there

-They provided mask that had been made and instructions on how to make them to.

-Provided educational but fun activities to do at home

-They have helped n many ways. Being available to provide activities to us as new home school teachers has been awesome! We love our Extension Office!