COVID-19 has presented many different challenges when meeting the needs of our communities but 2 programs have overcome those obstacles: The Free Food giveaway program and the Hunters for the Hungry food giveaway program.

The USDA Farmers to Families program was offered to the McLean County community through a partnership between Audubon Area Community Services, Mclean County Judge Executives office, Senior Citizens Program, UK Cooperative Extension Service and many other volunteer organizations in McLean County. McLean County received roughly $185,000 worth of free food during the fall of 2020. A much needed influx of food for the families in McLean County. It fed some families in need during this time of uncertainty. This Agent worked to help pass out and coordinate the activities on numerous occasions this past fall, when semi-trucks of food arrived here in McLean County.

The McLean County Cooperative Extension service also partnered with the Mclean County KY Fish and Wildlife officer and Hunters for the Hungry program to pass out the Wild Game recipe cards to recipients from the proceeds of donations to local harvesting facilities of wild game. This agent passed out over 500 recipe cards with assistance from the KY Fish and Wildlife officer. These recipe cards will help recipients prepare nutritional meals for their families through the gracious gift of meat from the Hunters for the Hungry program. A wildly successful program for many years that several community groups here in McLean County support through local donations.