Spend one hour per month to improve health in 2014
Get started now on your new year's healthy lifestyle resolutions by carving out an hour in your schedule to join an Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) class. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Great River Charitable Clinic and Aldersgate Community Services announce a new collaboration to kick-off the series of eight monthly EFNEP classes to help Mississippi County residents start making the lifestyle changes they want in 2014.
"My classes help people learn about ways to better feed their families, have their children eat healthier and hopefully save money at the grocery store," said Saundra Sovick Harms.
Harms, Mississippi County EFNEP Program Assistant with University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, will teach the class. The first session is Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 at the former Aldersgate United Methodist Church from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Each EFNEP lesson usually includes tasting something, a cooking demonstration or hands-on preparation of healthy and easy-to-prepare foods. Each class will last about an hour.
"During some of the classes, I get to give away kitchen gadgets such as measuring cups, a meat thermometer and a vegetable scrub brush," Harms said. "For the eighth and final lesson, I have an awesome full-color cookbook packed with easy-to-prepare recipes."
The classes are designed for low-income families, but everyone is welcome to attend. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
EFNEP uses 185% of the federal poverty level to establish income levels. For a family of three, that equals an annual income of $36,130, or $43,567 for a family of four and $51,004 for families with five members. EFNEP class members do not need paperwork to prove income. Families who participate in assistance programs such as SNAP, TANF and WIC are also encouraged to participate in EFNEP Classes.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program classes will be held for low-income families who want to learn to feed their families better, have their children eat healthier and hopefully save money at the grocery store. Classes will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the former Aldersgate Untied Methodist Church (Corner of Ruddle Road and Main Street) Blytheville, Ark.
The classes are co-hosted by: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Great River Charitable Clinic and Aldersgate Community Services. For more information contact Pam Pruett, Mississippi County Extension Agent-FCS, (870)762-2075 ppruett@uaex.edu or Saundra Sovick Harms, Mississippi County EFNEP Program Assistant, (870)762-2075 ssovick@uaex.edu.