In response to COVID-19 school, community and business closings, Marion County Cooperative Extension Service and the 4-H Program, ANR Program, and EFNEP Program sought to address a community need to provide educational opportunities.  Due to COVID-19 social distancing, 4-H, ANR, and EFNEP Programs developed Extension Activity Bags and informational packets that helped to keep both youth and adults informed and involved with  Extension programs during the pandemic.

Over 1500 informational packets were distributed through Central Kentucky Community Action in their monthly food distribution including recipe cards, youth Chop Chop Newsletters, Wally Cat Hand washing information and Staying Healthy Newsletters.  500 Extension Activity Bags were distributed by the local 21st Century Program to students who were learning remotely with NTI Days to provide engaging, hands on activities where youth and adults learned by doing!  Activity Bags included soybean and sunflower seeds to start their own plants at home while learning all about the science behind starting your own seeds. Twenty-five garden bags were distributed by Community Action to recipients of gardening vouchers to add in their vegetable production. Fifty Wild Games recipe booklets were made to send out to help provide nutritious wild game recipes during a time of meat shortages. 

The Bartley family posted pictures of their Sunflowers planted from seeds from an Extension Activity Bag. Many families were appreciative of the free activities to help keep both their children and themselves engaged in learning. Hand-washing information was discussed at the local radio station as well as promoted our our Facebook page.  Recipes utilizing food included in School lunch distribution were also posted to Facebook as well.