Nebraska SNAP-Ed Staff
“During the pilot launch of Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) in Lincoln, NE in 2017, I was able to support the program as a student employee. At the time, I was an undergraduate student at UNL studying nutrition and dietetics, and it was my first exposure to the amazing work Nebraska Extension and SNAP-Ed does. I was astounded by the number of SNAP participants that were so excited and grateful to be able to serve their families more fresh fruits and vegetables with DUFB, all very receptive to nutrition education. SNAP-Ed helped all of these people – from young couples with small children to older adults – purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables, learn the skills to prepare and serve them, and ultimately prevent chronic diseases in vulnerable populations.
Now, as a registered dietitian and public health professional, I know that SNAP-Ed goes even farther. In Lancaster county alone, SNAP-Ed manages 4 community gardens growing fresh produce for food pantries, provides nutrition education and physical activity curriculum to schools and childcare centers, delivers chronic disease prevention and management classes serving high-risk populations, and so much more. I truly believe that SNAP-Ed’s effective, evidence-based, and cost-saving program is one of, if not the most, important chronic disease prevention efforts in our county; and that is likely the same for country as a whole.”