The Commodity Supplemental Food Program improves low-income individuals' and families' health by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. Eating nutritious foods will make a difference in a person's health and how we feel in general. Healthy foods and beverages can increase energy levels, improve digestion, and prevention of chronic diseases. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides a monthly food package tailored for qualifying families and seniors to help stretch their food dollars and add nutritious foods to a diet for good health.  With Hickman County's population being 26.4 % are over the age of 65, and 17.7 % living within poverty.  

The Hickman County Nutrition Educational Program paraprofessional collaborated with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to teach 17 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively.  100% of NEP families improved in the nutritional quality of their diet.  

NEP graduated families improved their diet quality by 82% by consuming more fruits and vegetables, drinking less sweetened drinks, and preparing dinner at home.  80% of families increased their physical activity by making changes to strengthen muscles and be more physically active.   Food security was increased by 50% by having food to eat or the ability to obtain food. 79% of families also demonstrated an improvement in safe food handling practices and handwashing behavior. 77% of families learned to plan meals ahead of time, check the food on hand, and use a grocery list to guide their purchases leading to 59% of families eating at home more. A mother stated that because of the class she now has new ideas of how to cook the foods she receives in her commodities that her family will actually eat.  Due to COVID-19, the program is designed for seven core lessons to be taught, but participants only participated in six core lessons.