During 2020 most families spent more time together at home due to global pandemic restrictions.  Along with the increased time spent at home, many families faced financial struggles, food insecurity and looked for new ways to keep children entertained while at home.  According to the American Health Rankings, Kentucky had an unemployment rate of 4.9% and a poverty rate of 16.2% in 2020.

To meet the needs of these families, the Logan County Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development Extension Agents in partnership with community partners, worked together to bring families “Homemade Holidays.”  The goal of the Homemade Holidays program was to give families educational resources as well as positive, fun ideas and resources to spend time together at home as a family.  These program materials were distributed on multiple occasions, through grab and go kits, school holiday drive through events and the family resource Christmas assistance distribution.

The Homemade Holidays program materials reached a total of 487 individuals in Logan County. Comments received from program participants included, “Thank you so much for the sets!  They loved it!”, “Thank you so much for our homemade holiday kit.  I wanted to share the fun we had thanks to your thoughtful kits.  The kids had so much fun with family game nights playing Candyland and our favorite of all was finally being able to make homemade sugar cookies using the cookie cutter to make shaped Christmas cookies.  Thanks again for all your work.  These kits really helped bring some amazing holiday traditions to life.  Thanks so much!”