Southern Ky. county's Extension Service working closely with Hispanic population

In Russell County, Kentucky, population 17,565, the Cooperative Extension Service is working "with the county's Hispanic population . . . to improve their homes, families and food" through its 'Las Latinas' club, Katie Pratt reports for University of Kentucky Ag News. 'Las Latinas', an all-Hispanic Extension Homemaker Club, started in August 2010 after many Hispanic women participated in the service's community garden in the rural county on Lake Cumberland. (CES photo)

The members have participate in workshops on financial literacy, food safety, cooking and food preservation. Pamela York, Russell County's family and consumer sciences extension agent, shares Spanish-translated university publications with the group. She had the UK canning publications translated into Spanish with the help of a retired school teacher.

"Because many of their families have seasonal jobs, learning how to preserve food really makes a difference in them having food to eat in the wintertime," York told Pratt. "I think they've been able to prepare more nutritious food for themselves and their families."

Margie Hernandez, the extension assistant for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, told Pratt, "You have a sense that you can help them. You can help them fit into the community, save money, teach them how to budget and make healthier meals for their families."

Yazmin Chavez, who has participated in the program since 2009, told Pratt, "I've stayed with Extension, because they help us and we save money. We save more money every year." (Read more)