A Love Letter To My Community: Reflections at SNAP-Ed Close

As I wrap up my final days as your Community Nutrition Educator & Program Lead for Knox County under Maine SNAP-Ed, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Not just professionally, but personally.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the joy and honor of working with so many of you in classrooms, pantries, markets, libraries, community centers, and just about every local corner where food and care meet. Together, we’ve chopped vegetables, read stories, passed around rainbow carrots, and bonded over a shared excitement for food-shaped toys (seriously—who isn’t uplifted by a cute raddish stuffie?)

I’ve seen students light up when they try something new and love it. I’ve had pantry visitors tell me they finally figured out what to do with canned beans (and enjoy them). I’ve watched families swap cooking tips, share meals, and build confidence, even during our hardest seasons. These are the moments I’ll carry with me long after this program closes.

Due to federal funding cuts in July, the Knox County Maine SNAP-Ed program at PBCHP (hosted by the Penobscot Bay YMCA) will officially come to an end on September 1st, after 13 dedicated years of work supporting Midcoast food security.

I won't sugarcoat it; it's a tough goodbye, but it's not an empty one. This work was never just about eating or saving food dollars. It’s been about connection, dignity, community, self-empowerment, and making the most of what we have. And in Knox, I’ve seen those values show up again and again in the most generous and creative ways. This change in circumstances cannot falter the work we've put in for each other, nor the foundation we've built together.

While my official role will end after September 1st, I’m not going far. I’ll be stepping into a new Afterschool & Camp Coordinator role with the Y, where I’ll continue supporting local kids and families. I’m also exploring ways to keep offering independent nutrition education on a smaller scale, and will remain active as a member of the Knox County Food Council.

All that said, I’m still here, still in my ol' farmhouse apartment, still part of this community, and still cheering you on no matter what role I'm in (probably still carrying a produce-patterned tote bag with fruit dangling from my ears, because, baby, I was born this way ♪).

If you ever have a food question, need a resource, or just want to connect, you can reach me anytime via my independent email: midcoastmsday@gmail.com; or my work email: darnold@penbayymca.org. I’m always happy to offer support, share ideas, fact-check that food hack you saw on TikTok, or nerd out over nutrition and cooking. My role in the community may change, but I'll always be the same ol' Ms. Day, 'rooting' for food security, happy to help, and making awful puns the entire way.

Thank you for trusting me.

Thank you for feeding each other.

Thank you for reminding me why this work matters.

Let's keep it going.

With love and gratitude,

Day A. Arnold, BSND

Nutrition Educator & Program Lead

Maine SNAP-Ed, Knox County