Nov/Dec BC Home and Health Newsletter

Barren County's

HOME AND HEALTH NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

IN THIS ISSUE Gift Your Time this Holiday Season Thanksgiving Wordfind Tidying Up Can Save You Money

Plate It Up KY Proud Kentucky Sweet Potatoes

Refrigeration Needed MCA Annual Day Review

Homemaker Highlights

It's rather bittersweet but this will be my final edition of the BC Home and Health Newsletter. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as FCS agent for our community for the past 3 years.It is with a degree of sadness that I let y’all know my last day as Barren County FCS agent will be effective 10/31 and I will start a new role 11/1.

I have been blessed with a new opportunity that I could not pass up that offers me the ability to progress in my Extension career and serve the entire state. I will be serving as SNAP program coordinator for nutrition media and marketing for the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program(NEP). The goals of NEP are to educate limited resource families and SNAP-eligible individuals to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget, acquire safe food handling practices, improve food preparation skills and change behavior necessary to have a healthy lifestyle. I was raised with assistance from benefit programs including SNAP and am so very thankful for the opportunity to encourage working-poor folks from similar backgrounds to eat better on limited budgets creatively.

I’m so excited to focus full time on something I love… food. I’m thrilled that I am able to level up in my career and stay within the UK family. Wishing y'all a blessed holiday season, -Love and Light, LaToya

Gift your time this holiday season

LaToya Drake, MS Agent for Family and

Consumer Sciences

As the holidays approach, you may be stressing over finding the perfect present for each person on your list. Gift buying can be even more stressful and complicated if money is tight. Consider your time as an inexpensive, meaningful way to check off your list this year.

Time is one of the most valuable things we can give, yet when it is time for gift-giving, it is something that we tend to overlook and undervalue. Not only will gifting your time save you some money, but it can help create memories that will be more valuable and precious than any store-bought gift.

Gift your time this holiday season Here are some ways to give time to friends and family.

Offer to help someone complete a task or project. You may save them money in the process.

Use your talents to make a thoughtful, handmade gift.

These gifts can range from crocheted hats to picture frames to food depending on your interests, talents, and abilities.

Consider a “stuff” swap instead of a gift exchange. We all have books we have read, toys our kids no longer play with, or clothes that don’t fit. Instead of having a gift exchange, consider swapping items you no longer need with your friends and family.

Gift an experience rather than a physical item. There are many low and no-cost experiences you can give someone including trips to a historical landmark, museum, or park. These types of gifts can give your loved ones something to look forward to once the pandemic is over.

For more information about ways to reduce your gift-giving expenses, contact the Barren County Extension office.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Refrigeration Needed

Mammoth Cave Area Annual Day

Homemaker Highlights The Extension Office Auditorium is open for meetings. A club representative must sign the agreement and ensure members follow UK policies. Please reach out to Chris or Jeanie with questions.

There are still a few Homemaker shirts for sale! Be ready for Homemaker events and purchase your shirt! ($14, S-XL; $15, XXL) A big thanks to everyone that made Area Annual Day a huge success. Special thank you's to County President, Cynthia for her leadership, Debbie Gray for organizing the many vendors, and everyone who attended and participated in any way.