According to the Centers for Disease Control, six out of ten Americans have some type of chronic disease with four out of ten having at least two types of chronic diseases.  With a partnership between the Owsley County Extension Service and the local community commodity distribution, nutrition lessons are taught to help improve overall knowledge of nutrition benefits of healthy eating for senior citizens, as well as physical activity. 

Lessons are taught to participants who pick up commodity food boxes, each box contains at least one food from all five food groups.  Along with the lessons, recipes are distributed as well to help the participants use the food items in a healthy way.  Almost every month an average of 200 boxes are given out to the local citizens with hopes of helping them to incorporate more healthy foods in their diets in order to help alleviate chronic diseases in the county.  

Most seniors are very appreciative of the recipes to be able to try different dishes with their food boxes.  One participant stated that she looks forward to seeing us each month and is excited about what new recipe we will have that she can try as soon as she gets home.