Seniors Eating Well Program:
A community partnership between UConn Extension SNAP-Ed Food Security project, Elmwood Hall Senior Center, Danbury Farmers’ Market and Clatter Valley Farm provides a free produce box ($10 value) for seniors in need. SNAP-Ed provides nutrition education materials following the Penn State Seniors Eating Well curriculum and includes a postcard with QR code that links to our UConn Extension YouTube channel community nutrition playlist. The “Market on the Move” program was designed as a way to keep seniors safe during COVID-19 and as a way to continue to provide nutrition programming with the senior center closure. Social distancing, masks required, all participants remained in their vehicles and produce boxes/nutrition materials were placed in their passenger seat or trunk based on individual comfort level. Senior Center staff coordinated with senior participants and distributed boxes on-site the day of, Danbury Farmers’ Market provided funding to support the produce, SNAP-Ed food security provided nutrition materials, recipes and a small incentive for each participant (ex: grilling tongs in July). Future programs are planned monthly throughout the Connecticut growing season, August, September and October 2020.
Danbury Farmers’ Market YouTube:
SNAP-Ed has been a long standing community partner of the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative (DFMCC) providing on-site indirect or direct nutrition education for the past 12 years. In the past 5 years, SNAP participants have benefited from direct nutrition education via a 30 minute bilingual nutrition presentation and cooking demonstration. This year given COVID-19, only farm vendors are permitted at the market. SNAP-Ed needed to be a bit more creative in 2020. SNAP-Ed Food Security is providing to market-goers weekly bilingual recipes, nutrition handouts and a postcard with QR code that links to low cost bilingual videos. SNAP-Ed Food Security partnered with the Danbury Public Library to offer a Zoom presentation, participants were encouraged to use SNAP or pandemic SNAP benefits at the market which allows doubling of SNAP benefits and as an incentive for their participation were provided a reusable insulated grocery tote at the market. All SNAP-Ed Food Security videos are posted on the UConn Extension YouTube channel, Danbury Farmers’ Market YouTube channel, and to social media outlets. If market-goers watch the Danbury Farmers’ Market YouTube videos and report back to the cashier at the farmers’ market, additional incentives from DFMCC include a free $3 plastic coin towards produce purchases.
YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2hcRxQSIxJdHoOZ7JZRSA
