Maine Nutrition Educator
“I’ve worked for SNAP-Ed for the past 18 years and have seen and heard from participants the positive impact its made on their lives. My job involves everything from introducing young children to fruits and vegetables, often times ones they’ve never had, because parents can’t afford to purchase foods they aren’t sure their kids eat. Many times a year I run into parents at my schools, or out at community events or at the grocery store. Children exclaim THATS THE LADY THAT GAVE ME SNOW PEAS!!! And the parents come over to tell me now they buy snow peas every week and even tried them cooked in a stirfry and BOTH kids love them now.
I also have the opportunity to teach youth and adult basic cooking classes. Our schools no longer teach home economics classes and as such kids turn into adults who only know how to prepare boxed, pre-made foods. Teaching my clients how to scratch cook, how to meal plan and budget their food dollars gives them more resources, without using more money. It teaches them about ingredients and how to use them a multitude of ways so that they can learn flexibility and still keep bellies full and bodies healthy.
Lastly, SNAP-Ed also does important and wide reaching Policy, Systems and Environmental Change work in our communities. This work reaches far beyond the classroom or kitchen and makes improvements to entire communities.
The continued support of SNAP-Ed is critical in assuring fiscal responsibility of SNAP and the health of our residents.
Recent years SNAP-Ed program evaluation has proven the success of SNAP-Ed and I hope you’ll continue to support this life changing program for our Maine (and nationwide) residents.”