MOUNT VERNON — Eating healthy on a tight budget is the goal of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and it seems to be working in Knox County.
Tanner Cooper-Risser, SNAP educator with OSU Extension, told the county commissioners on Thursday that SNAP-Ed (the education arm of SNAP) reached 6,363 participants through direct nutrition education programs in Fiscal Year 2018. Of those, 86 percent were youth participants and 13 percent adult participants.
Cooper-Risser goes to the Mount Vernon City Schools as well as senior centers and summer lunch programs to talk abut nutrition and exercise. In FY2018, he presented 544 direct nutrition education programs, 97 percent of them as a program series. When possible, he also provides a cooking demonstration.
According to surveys, SNAP-Ed has affected participants in positive ways:
- 75% of adults/teens and 88% of youth are using MyPlate to make healthy food choices
- 87% of adults/teens and 91% of youth are drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks
- 84% of adults/teens and 93% of youth are being physically active at least 30 minutes most days of the week
- 81% of adults/teens are using Nutrition Facts labels to guide food choices
- 77% of adults/teens are planning meals ahead of time
Two years ago, SNAP became accepted at the weekly Farmers Market on Public Square. Last year, Produce Perks was introduced by market coordinator Michelle Duffy.
Produce Perks, funded by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, matches up to $20 on qualified purchases (fruits and vegetables) a SNAP customer makes.
“So, essentially they get $40 worth of food,” Duffy explained to the commissioners, adding that an average of 12 to 15 people took advantage of Produce Perks each month during the 2018 farmers markets.
In addition to SNAP, Produce Perks joins several other voucher incentive programs: seniors, WIC (Women, Infants, Children), and MCH (Maternal Child Health). Together, the five programs brought in nearly $7,000 last year.
Also on Thursday, the commissioners heard an update from Jeff Pickrell, water/wastewater superintendent. The Howard well field erosion stabilization project is complete. Pickrell said that Heather Doherty, Central Ohio scenic river manager with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, approved of and was happy with the outcome.
Repair work on wells 6 and 1 is done except for some electrical work that Pickrell’s department will complete. Underground Connections will make 16 repairs on county sewer lines. Pickrell said the system is losing about 100,000 gallons a day through the leaks.
He reported 37 new service locations in Apple Valley last year.
