For more than 30 years, the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) has helped individuals and families in Anderson, Franklin, and Osage counties make healthier food and lifestyle choices. The program, however, came to an end on September 30 after federal legislation passed earlier this summer eliminated its funding.
The SNAP-Ed program served as the educational arm of the SNAP program and has been instrumental in helping individuals and families with limited resources stretch food dollars, choose and prepare nutritious meals, and incorporate physical activity into their daily life. In addition to hands-on nutrition education, the SNAP-Ed program also supported policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) efforts or community-level initiatives designed to make healthy choices easier and more accessible for everyone.
Within the Frontier District, the SNAP-Ed program was coordinated by Chelsea Richmond, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health Agent, with Nutrition Educators Anita Sobba and Kris Wallace playing an essential role in delivering nutrition education across the district’s three counties. Over the past year, the program reached 5,370 individuals through PSE efforts aimed at improving food access. These efforts included serving on local coalitions, promoting and distributing vouchers for older adults to use at farmers markets, assisting with summer meal programs, offering recipes and tastings at farmers markets and food pantries for in season and available food items, and posting nutrition nudges at pantries to encourage healthier food choices.
In addition, 140 older adults participated in nutrition education classes offered at senior centers and low-income housing sites. Based on post-program surveys, 72% reported exercising more each week for at least 30 minutes a day, 59% reported eating more fruits, and 56% reported eating more vegetables. Nutrition education was also provided to 323 youth through programs at local schools, recreational facilities, after-school programs, and summer programs. Among those youth, 19% reported drinking less soda or pop and 12% reported reading Nutrition Facts labels more often.
Rebecca McFarland, District Director and Family and Community Wellness Agent, has seen the program adapt over the past 30 years to meet the needs of individuals and families it serves. “The program has evolved from providing only nutrition education to incorporating physical activity education, and more recently, to improving food access through policy, systems, and environmental efforts,” says McFarland.
Although federal funding for the SNAP-Ed program has ended, the Frontier Extension District Board has voted to continue the nutrition education efforts by using local funds. This decision ensures that two nutrition educator positions will remain in place to sustain programming and partnerships that support healthy lifestyles across the district.
“Our communities have benefited greatly from the SNAP-Ed program over the years,” said Chelsea Richmond. “Nutrition education will always be a priority in my work, and with the board’s decision and support, we can reach more people while keeping two outstanding nutrition educators serving our communities. Together, we will continue strengthening the relationships and partnerships we’ve built and support healthier choices across the district.”
Board members also recognize the program’s impact. “This program makes a difference in our district. We reach a wide group of youth, adults, and seniors in our district through these education programs. Students, adults, and seniors have opportunities to participate in programs that can positively change their behaviors, making them healthier overall,” says Jody Newton, Frontier District Board Member.
With a continued commitment, the Frontier District will build on the SNAP-Ed legacy by helping individuals and families of all ages make lasting, practical changes for healthier lives.
