Due to the pandemic, meeting with families in person during the past year has been extremely challenging if not impossible.  However; the message of the nutrition education program still needed to be presented to the families of Lewis County.  The need to get the vital information of food safety, proper nutrition and information on being active.  The Snap-Ed program assistant in Lewis County partnered with Garrison Elementary school through their school meal program in an effort to distribute information to families along the bus routes.

Sharing Plate it Up recipe cards, Cook Wild cards, Healthy Choices newsletters, Chop Chop newsletters and information from the University of Kentucky regarding COVID updates, approximately 100 families received weekly or bi-weekly handouts containing information to help them remain healthy at home.  Roughly 3,300 pieces of extremely important informative pieces were distributed during this time period.  Families were requesting additional recipe cards as they thoroughly enjoyed the new menu options to try during times when restaurants were either closed or limited on their service.  It opened up a new creative side to many families as they prepared and tried new recipes that were healthy at the same time.

While the challenges of delivering the message of the nutrition education program throughout Kentucky have been significant, by partnering with the school system in Lewis County, the information was placed directly into the families hands.  The message was brought directly to the people and proved that, with a little effort, the mission can be accomplished.