Author: Tech Support

May/June 2020 Newsletter Newsletter

My husband, Jason and I welcomed our twins, Sammons and Anna Kate McGarrh, a little earlier than expected. Sammons was born on April 18th at 29 weeks and 3 days and Anna Kate was born on April 24th at 30 weeks and 2 days. Yes, they are twins but were born 6 days apart, it’s a very unique story! Please keep our little family of 4 in your thoughts and prayers.
Office Update
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), UA Extension Administration has instructed our office to be closed to the general public until further notice. In addition, we are cancelling all face-to-face meetings.
But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still here to support our communities in all the ways we always have been. While public health recommendations may limit in-person contact, we are increasingly available through online venues, including webinars and internet-based teleconferencing. And of course, we’re still ready to answer questions and make recommendations by phone or email.
If you haven’t visited our website in a while, we encourage you to take a look www.uaex.edu. We also have a wealth of resources related to coping with COVID-19 at www.uaex.edu/covid19. COVID-19 isn't selective about where it makes its impacts. Explore our website and learn how the pandemic is affecting agriculture, businesses, local governments and consumers and what actions may be needed to protect yourself, your family and/or your employees.
The bottom line is, we’re still on the job and are hoping to get back to "normal operations" soon!

AEHC Breaking News
A recent decision has been made by the AEHC officer team to postpone the 2020 state meeting to June 30-July 2 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. While nothing is certain right now, this is the latest plan. We will send more information as soon as it becomes available. EHC members can also join the text message group to receive updates – just text "ehc" to the number 474747. More details about the state meeting and other EHC events can also be found on the website www.uaex.edu/ehc.

EHC Milestones and Memorials
Plans for the state meeting are tentative for now, BUT we still want a list of milestone members (50, 60 or 70+years) and memorials. Please send this information along with a photo to the Union County Extension Service, 307 American Road, Suite 101, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730 or email to lamcgarrh@uaex.edu. I would prefer email right now since we are still telecommuting.

Facemasks
THANK YOU to all the Extension Homemakers Club and 4-H members who have made facemasks for the community. What a great way to use your talents to help others during this pandemic. We have some donated cotton fabric that is at the Extension Office, if you need some please call 870-864-1916 and it will be left out in a plastic bin for you to use. You all have made over 1020 facemasks, volunteered over 738 hours with 36 volunteers making the facemasks! The facemasks have been donated to family, friends, churches, Hudson Nursing Home, Oakridge Nursing Home, SARHC, DHS employees, Gold Cross Urgent Care, Barton Library, Hope House, Lawrence Electric, Walgreens Employees, Women’s Clinic, Literary students, and Lifetouch. For patterns and recommendations by the CDC and Arkansas Department of Health, visit the AEHC website at www.uaex.edu/ehc

Statewide Food Insecurity Project
Food insecurity in Arkansas is on the rise. AEHC is trying to bring awareness to this issue and be an ally to those in need. As our statewide project, we made a two-year commitment to address food insecurity. By working together to address food insecurity, we hope to lower the number of people without access to food. Our main goal is to provide one million meals by 2021.
If you filled an empty, small 10-ounce water bottle with dimes, it would hold $65. Did you know that with only $50 the food banks can purchase 350 meals? We may not be able to volunteer our time in food pantries right now, but we can provide food and resources.
Reporting our impact is crucial to this project. Please be sure to keep track of volunteer hours and items donated. If you need an report form, please email me at lamcgarrh@uaex.edu.

County Extension Agent– Family and Consumer Science

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.