Success StoryVirtual Community Outreach during COVID19 Pandemic



Virtual Community Outreach during COVID19 Pandemic

Author: Whitney Paige Alexander

Planning Unit: Logan County CES

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Outcome: Initial Outcome

In the state of Kentucky during the Covid-19 pandemic University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program worked diligently to reach clients virtually to keep staff and clientele safe. Logan County’s unemployment jumped from February 2020 at 4.1 percent to 15. 8 percent in April 2020. Logan County had an increase of sixteen percent in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Food Benefits. During the pandemic there have been a lot of uncertainties, hardships, and drastic change in everyday life around the state and educational materials provided by the Nutrition Education Program in Logan County provided community members with unbiased research based information to address concerns and needs during the uncertain time. 

During the pandemic Logan County Nutrition Education Program Education Assistant reached out to clients with educational materials and virtual programming via Facebook, email newsletters, and grab bags available for pick up at the Logan County Extension Office. 

Information shared with clients included proper handwashing techniques, healthy budget friendly recipes, recipe demonstration videos and weekly newsletters through the Logan County Nutrition Education Program Facebook Page. Through partnerships with the local agencies such as, Good Samaritan and Auburn Senior Center, Logan County limited resource clients received educational information regarding proper food preservation and storage as well as quick and frugal recipes utilizing commodities. Logan County Cooperative Extension created grab bags with information from each program area to reach families. Twenty –five grab bags were created to with Nutrition Education Program 2020 recipe calendars, dry milk publication and Healthy Choices Newsletter. Through these virtual efforts the Logan County Nutrition Education Program Assistant reached a total of 2,973 indirect contacts utilizing social media during the last two weeks of March. 






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