Grant County averaged 2408 families receiving SNAP Benefits of $304 per month.  The Grant County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), partnering with Grant County Extension Consumer Science (FCS) Food Preservation, Grant County Community Action Agency (CAC) Plant Giveaway, Grant County Public Library (GCPL) Seed Library, and Grant County Extension Master Food Volunteers, collaborated to empower families to stretch their food dollars with healthy food options.   The limited resource adults whose families received SNAP benefits, attended the NEP Healthy Choices series this year. Members of both groups choose to participate in food preservation classes through the FCS program at Grant County Extension.  The Grant County SNAP Education Assistant promoted aided in both the CAC Plant Giveaway and with the FCS Food Preservation Classes. 

Several of the adults benefited by utilizing local resources to extend their food budget by growing a garden.  Twelve enrolled families grew some type of a garden this year. Two were first time growers.  Twelve families took advantage of the local plant giveaway and two clients went to the library to get free seeds from their Seed Library.    Participants acquired knowledge on the consequences of proper food safety when preserving food.

Participants were very proud of their food preservation skills and spent time as families preserving food.  Two adults had food preservation entries in the Grant County Fair.  Families also extended their food budgets by gardening and preserving.  Over 70 bushels of fruits and vegetables were harvested and 56 pounds stored.  Also, 85 pints, 64 half pints and 94 quarts of fruits and vegetables were canned. Participants acquired knowledge on the consequences of proper food safety when preserving food.  Participants acquired knowledge on the consequences of proper food safety when preserving food.  “I learned a lot.  I now know to use canning salt instead of iodized.  I’ve learned about consequences of not following canning recipes.  Thank you for the classes.” One participant stated, “Started canning this year for the first time.  I feel quite confident.  I will be able to preserve food from my garden (planning a bigger one next year)!”