During the COVID-19 pandemic at statewide “Healthy at Home” initiative was issued in Kentucky. This initiative encouraged Kentucky residents, especially those with underlying health conditions, to stay at home as much as possible to avoid becoming ill due to the rapidly spreading corona virus. During this time many elderly and senior citizen residents found themselves sheltering in place in order to stay safe and healthy. In an effort to reach these community members during this time the Allen County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant and the local Allen County Senior Citizens Center partnered together to find an innovative approach to keep the 45 center participants engaged and active. 

The innovative program, Bingo By Phone, began with a packet being mailed to each participant. Packets included bingo game instructions, a blank bingo card, numbered photos and a list of prizes. The program was offered each week on Tuesday and Thursday from May 12 until July 2, 2020. Each week the senior citizen participants would call an automated voicemail recording to obtain the bingo numbers for that day. 

Once a participant was able to claim BINGO, he or she would call the Allen County Senior Center to confirm their winning bingo numbers and choose their prize. Prizes were placed at drop off location outside the Allen County Senior Center in order to maintain social distancing guidelines and contactless pickup. Each participant was only allowed to win bingo once but all participants received a gift by the end of the program.  The benefits of the program were to help the senior have structure their day and gave them something to keep them on schedule during uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic.