During the COVID-19 shutdown one area of Bourbon County that has been hit hard is the senior citizens that rely on the Bourbon County Senior Center.  To reach these individuals, that have nowhere to congregate together, the senior center and the Bourbon County Nutrition Education Program partnered together for outreach to these individuals.  Once a month the seniors that are receiving a home delivered meal have received a "program on the go" bag.  These bags have focused on hand washing, food safety, hydration, and eating more fruits and vegetables.  To try and make an additional reach to them it was decided between to two agencies to do a recipe demonstration to go along with the bag.   The recipients would receive their bag along with a copy of the recipe of the week.  A video of that recipe would then be recorded and posted on the Bourbon County Senior Centers Facebook page.

As of August 2020, a total of 224 bags have been passed out to seniors in the community. The "program on the go bags" and recipe demonstration videos have been a great way to keep in touch with this audience and has allowed for the program to see a 50% increase in participation since the end of March. Senior citizens are among some of the most vulnerable individuals. By participating in community programming like the “program on the go bags,” this group can have that sense of togetherness without having to leave their homes.  

The program has been received very well by the participants as evidenced by the positive comments. One recipient commented "I am so glad to have something new to read. The magazines, newsletters, and recipes help me take my mind off what is going on for a little while."  Another who watched a video commented "Looks good. I wish I was there to get a bite." While the preferred method of program delivery will always be in-person, the Bourbon County Senior Center and Nutrition Education Program Senior Assistant are confident their ongoing efforts with this program will only produce positive outcomes.