COVID-19 is an unprecedented health crisis that threatens the physical and mental well-being of everyone, but especially children.  To address this issue, Morgan County Extension Agents collaborated to provide “Grab-n-Go” kits containing educational materials, instructional lessons and supplies. Offered the same days as weekly school lunch pickups, more than 2,500 packets were safely distributed to county residents outside the Extension Educational Center for a 3 month period.  

The objectives of the kits were as follows:

1. Educate adults with the most current Covid information using Extension resources,
2. Encourage family time and promote “Healthy at Home,” and
3. Enable fun and “hands on learning” activities for youth and families to offset negative stress.

Examples of such kits included:

1.  Earth Day - materials encouraging use of recyclables to make bird feeders while getting outside, complete with bird watching sleuth guide to record daily sightings.  FCS agent provided recipes for Green cleaners.
2. Arbor Day - Tree seedlings were provided by the Soil Conservation District with a proper planting procedures Extension publication.  Youth received a tree cookie lesson about a trees life span and how to adopt a tree.  
3. Gardening – New, young and experienced gardeners alike enjoyed free plants, seeds, and growing information throughout the program, as well as recipes.
4. Cooking and Life Skills – From bread making and utilizing food supplies in the pantry to information on the virus itself and how to clean and sanitize, crucial information was rapidly disseminated.

Extension staff broadened their technology skills to provide instructional Facebook live videos and other non-traditional delivery methods to complement the kits. The 4-H Youth Agent also provided resources to teachers for use with student NTI lessons such as the shared live caterpillar life cycle kits with 350 youth and 12 classrooms.  The google classroom sessions enabled students to observe and document each of the cycles and then celebrate with a butterfly release.  

As evidenced by the many happy pictures of completed projects and positive comments posted on Facebook, the Grab ’n Go initiative certainly met its objectives.  Community members and school leaders have expressed their appreciation for Extension helping to meet needs in this time of crisis.