On Dec. 21, volunteers across Barren County delivered boxes of donated goods to families in time for Christmas. The boxes, organized by Barren County Schools and community members, contained food items like canned vegetables, mac and cheese, oatmeal, juice, snacks, and hot spaghetti and ham, along with crocheted toboggans made by knitting ministries nationwide. CheyAnne Fant, the director of nutrition services and afterschool programs, coordinated the effort. This marks the eighth year of the initiative, which aims to support local families during the holiday season. Recipients, such as the Medina family, expressed gratitude for the thoughtful gifts.

The holiday season brings joy, but nothing compares to the freedom of indulging in a post-feast nap. This phenomenon, known as a "food coma" or "postprandial somnolence," refers to the fatigue and decreased alertness experienced after a large meal. Research by experts like Justine Hervé and Subha Mani confirms that food comas are real and can impair cognitive performance by 5% to 9%, affecting tasks like test-taking. Studies with over 4,000 Indian students showed that those tested shortly after eating performed worse, despite exerting the same effort. While the exact cause remains unclear—disproven theories include blood flow shifts and tryptophan—research on sea slugs suggests insulin-like hormones may play a role. Though food comas aren't harmful, it's wise to wait an hour before tackling demanding tasks post-meal.

Food Connect, a tech platform matching surplus food donors with charitable recipients, is set to launch in the Twin Cities metro area, backed by $600,000 in seed funding from the GreenLight Fund Twin Cities. This initiative aims to address food insecurity, which affects one in eight Minnesotans, by efficiently distributing surplus food. Over four years, Food Connect plans to serve over 20,000 residents and distribute nearly 100,000 pounds of food, collaborating with local organizations like Youthprise and Feeding Frogtown. The nonprofit will use online profiles to match donors and recipients in real-time and may partner with Hennepin County and Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy on pilot programs. Simone Hardeman-Jones, founding executive director of GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, emphasized the importance of equitable access and system connectivity in addressing food insecurity.