DATE:    10/03/96
CONTACT: Lizzie Walker, (803) 359-8515 
WRITER:  Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3875

EFNEP Helps Low-Income Residents
Gain Control of Their Lives  

     CLEMSON -- First, Patricia Kirby gained control of her
resources, then her life -- getting an education, a job and a
dream of finishing college.
     Gaining control took nine years, but thanks to Clemson
Extension's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP), Kirby believes in her future.
     "When I first entered the Lexington County EFNEP program, I
was a single mother on welfare with two small children. I had a
very low self-esteem, but Lizzie Walker showed me that I was
worth something," she said. "I began to realize that if Ms.
Walker saw something in me, maybe someone else will too. So
I went back to school, kept a 4.0 average and completed my
training in child care."
     Today, Kirby works as a resource assistant for a
self-contained emotionally handicapped class in a Lexington
County middle school. She works during the day and still attends
classes at night. Her dream -- a four-year college degree -- now
appears to be within reach.
     Lizzie Walker, EFNEP program assistant for Lexington
County, has seen it happen before.
     "I recently learned of five people, who, like Patricia
Kirby, went through my program, are now off welfare and are doing
something with their lives."
     Katherine Cason, Extension program coordinator for EFNEP,
believes the program works because it's not a handout, but a
tool.
     "For many low-income families, becoming empowered -- even
over a small part of their lives -- is the first step out of
poverty," Cason said.
   EFNEP is a cooperative venture with other government
agencies to help low-income people get the most out of their food
dollar, according to Cason.
     The program came to South Carolina in 1969 and has graduated 
97,523 adults and 118,295 youth ages 5-19. This year the program
will reach 4,000 adults and 6,000 youths.
     According to recent state statistics, 95 percent of
graduated program participants said they can now budget their
money or food stamps to last all month; 89 percent used a
shopping list; and 90 percent could plan meals that were more
nutritious.
     Through EFNEP, assistants from 38 counties work with other
federal and state agencies to reach low-income adults and
children. Low-income is defined as a family of four living on
$8,868 or less per year.
   "Every day there is someone in South Carolina going hungry
because they have limited resources and don't know how to budget,
so by the end of the month are out of money or food stamps,"
Cason said. "That can be a very painful experience for parents
who know their children are going to be going hungry."
     Walker has seen that pain firsthand.
     "People come to me with no idea how to make out a grocery
list, compare prices, plan meals or budget," Walker said. "Most
are frightened, but this program helps them take control of their
lives one step at a time."
      Walker works with over 100 people referred to her from
seven state and local agencies. These agencies include DHEC,
mental health and child care agencies. She also works with local
4-H'ers. 
     Generally, participants are in the program for six months
to one year. When they complete the program, they are given a
certificate of graduation.
     Today, Walker's biggest challenge is working with people
referred to her from the Lexington County Mental Health Center.
     "The people who come to the Mental Health Center for my
classes are facing a double challenge. First, they are fighting
the stigma of mental illness," she said. "Second, many are
living on their own for the first time or it has been a long time
since they lived on their own, so they don't know how to take
care of a household. I am able to give them some control over a
small part of their lives." 
     Loyda Stevens, human services coordinator for the mental
health center, has seen what EFNEP has done for her clients.
     "The program gives my clients a sense of independence,"
Stevens said. "EFNEP teaches them to plan a meal,  make a
shopping list, buy items that are nutritional for that meal and
prepare the meal. For these folks, it is a great accomplishment
to be able to do these small things the rest of us take for
granted. I would recommend this program to anyone." 
     Kirby said, "Nine years after finishing the EFNEP program, I
still use what I learned every day. My own children are healthy
because they eat right. At work, I teach my students how to make
simple, nutritious dishes I learned from Ms. Walker. It's nice to
be able to pass on what I got from EFNEP to someone else."        
                               END