Success Story 2020 Decembera.pdf

“Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension transitioning into More Non-Traditional Extension Programs with Grab and Go Bags in Hardin County”

Over the last several months, Kentucky has been challenged with dealing with a major pandemic called the corona virus, also known as COVID-19.  The virus has impacted several communities within Kentucky including the agriculture business, farmers, restaurants, and school districts.  In order to meet the need of people, Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension program started offering programs in a more non-traditional format that includes fact sheets, newsletter, and videos to get information to reach the citizens within the communities in Kentucky. One family and consumer science extension agent within Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Chandra DeRamus and an Area Specialist, William Mason Crawford, collaborated to create a program to reach different audiences using newsletters and brown bags, called Grab and Go Bags, to provide some educational resources to two local organizations, Communicare and Warm Blessings.   The resources provided thru the Grab and Go Bag program has met the need of the community with tips on how to save money on holiday meals and tips on how to make your meals healthier by including healthier dishes by using healthy recipes.

          In Hardin county, the Grab and Go Bag program was part of a November project to get some healthy recipes cards out to people and tips on how to save money on holiday meals.  The two organizations that received the Grab and Go Bags were Communicare and Warm Blessings.  Communicare serves members of the community within Hardin County by providing resources for individuals who need assistance with physiological related issues and post-traumatic stress.  The other organization, Warm Blessings, provides families and individuals with assistance with temporary housing, meals, and financial assistance.  With the two organizations a total of about 290 bags were passed out to help families within the community.  The Grab and Go Bags included newsletters, recipe cards, and craft materials for each family.  The bags for the kids included craft materials to design a turkey from a project called, “What are you Thankful for,”.  So kids had a chance to say what they were thankful for on this year using craft materials that were included in the Grab and Go bags along with newsletter on “Handwashing Tips and Ways to Prevent Germs.”

The participants who received Grab and Go bags were asked to complete an 

on-line survey on questions asking them how they liked the newsletter, did they use any of the tips on saving money listed in the newsletter, how often they consumed vegetables, would they increase vegetable consumption, and on whether they had eaten winter squash before.  Lastly, they were asked what they enjoyed most from the Grab and Go Bags.  About 85% of the people who completed the survey and read the newsletter stated that they did enjoy reading the tips on saving money on their holiday meals and would consider using the money saving tips by purchasing items on sale and/or using coupons.  

In addition, about 95% of the respondents, stated that they would consider increasing vegetable consumption by purchasing more vegetables.   While only about 5% of the participants had ever eaten a winter squash before in the past.   The majority of the people surveyed enjoyed the recipe cards and would like to receive more recipe cards or see them in a newsletter, print format.  Overall, the Grab and Go Bag program was a success within Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  Several of the participants were excited about receiving the information and stated that they were looking forward to what kind of programs we would be offering in the future.   

In closing, the pandemic has made it so that extension programming offers new ways to reach citizens within Kentucky.  It has changed the horizon for extension agents to develop new programs and create new ways to reach different audiences at home.  The university will continue to offer various programs that make it easier for people to access information and resources that can help to improve their lives. 

Pictured Above: This is a picture of Chandra DeRamus, FCS Agent, filling the Grab & Go bags for the local organizations in Hardin County, Communicare (organization in Elizabethtown, KY assists clients with behavioral health issues) with newsletters on Safe Handwashing procedures & craft Activity, “What are You Thankful for,” & Updates on Community Collaborations w/Kentucky State University & Warm Blessings (organization in Elizabethtown, provides assistance for temporary housing and warm meals).

Pictured Above: Chandra DeRamus, FCS Agent, preparing Grab and Go Bags for kids for Communicare (organization in Elizabethtown, KY assists clients with behavioral health issues) organization, with piggy banks to promote saving money and recipes cards for Macaroni and cheese.

Pictured Above: Mason Crawford, Area Specialist for Kentucky State University, preparing Grab and Go Bags for adults and kids for Warm Blessings (organization in Elizabethtown, provides assistance for temporary housing and warm meals) organization, with newsletters, and recipes cards.

Pictured Above: Mason Crawford, Area Specialist for Kentucky State University, and Chandra DeRamus, FCS Agent, dropping off Grab and Go Bags for adults and kids at Warm Blessings (organization in Elizabethtown, provides assistance for temporary housing and warm meals) organization, with newsletters, and recipes cards.