Author: Nanette Banks
Planning Unit: Letcher County CES
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Plan of Work: Improving Physical, Health and Mental Well-Being--2020
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Holidays are often an exciting time of the year. However, the holidays in 2020 came with lots of stress: holiday spending, Covid-19 quarantines, as well as Covid-19 mental, physical and financial stresses. With the normal no holiday spending budgets, limited or no visits with family and friends; families were stressed to the max.
To assist individuals in understanding and responding to stress resulting from holiday expenses and Covid-19 related issues the Quicksand Area Family and Consumer Science agents in the Quicksand Area hosted a grab and go “Holiday Roadshow” program to address Covid-19 related stresses. Emphasis was placed on understanding how implementing a holiday budget and other cost-saving strategies, such as: preparing gifts, decorations and food that is home-made can help individuals to reduce not only financial stress but also mental and physical stress . Booklets and publications were distributed that included financial saving and spending tips, recipes, and easy crafts to do as a family.
Follow up surveys from the Quicksand Area counties concluded: One thousand one hundred eighty crafts were made, three hundred three recipes were tried, ninety six percent indicated they had had made at least one positive financial decision, while 91% of participants implemented one money saving strategy. A total of four thousand seven hundred dollars was saved. Some comments returned were: “The annual holiday showcase provides me with new healthy recipes that are tasty and cost efficient”. “Each year I come away with new craft ideas that I can make and sale to supplement my income”. “My kids looked forward to the crafts in the grab and go bags”.
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