The 2020/2021 year has held many challenges for everyone across the United States. Facing a global pandemic wasn’t easy and brought on fear, stress and uncertainty for all families in our community. Helping individuals to manage and learn to cope with these obstacles in a safe way and helping them to stay physically connected but physically distanced was the focus and goal.

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service provided weekly grab and go kits with the lessons on the keys to embracing aging. This program focused on ways to manage your stress, the power of keeping a positive attitude and keeping your brain active. All of which are important when dealing with life’s changes.

20 participants picked up a series of kits and activities that helped to keep their brains engaged, reduce the stress in their lives, and how to take time for themselves. After the program had concluded, an evaluation was given and revealed that 90% chose to handle stress appropriately, 80% indicated that they now take time for themselves daily (30 minutes a day), and 90% stated that because of these grab and go lessons they have learned or tried something new during this pandemic. One participant stated that “because of the kits and the information in them, it helped to keep my mind on other things and not to worry.”