Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 new guidelines on how individuals and businesses would operate, guiding families to stay home more and to limit their time around other individuals. It was important that the clientele in the community were still being reached. New and interesting ways of reaching these clients were offered. After acknowledging this need in the community the Wolfe County Cooperative Extension Service Nutrition Education Assistant partnered with the 4H agent and created Grab and Go kits. The kits included healthy lifestyle tips, recipes, youth activities/games, gardening tips, stress management advice and arts and crafts.
280 kits were dispersed each week for several weeks. Participants were required to sign a recipient log that was set on a table near the kits. The participants were also asked to complete a survey of the materials in the kit. Survey data reported that the kits were a benefit to the families during a difficult time. 94.12% of participants indicated that they were making healthy lifestyle choices as a result of the Grab and Go kits. One parent stated, “My family has remembered the importance of drinking water throughout the day and even more when are outside.”