Mercer County Health Department

11/06/2025

🥫 Mercer County Neighbors — Need a Meal or Groceries? 💛

If you or someone you know needs a little extra help, our community has caring local resources ready to support you.

Let’s look out for each other, Mercer County — share this to help spread the word! 🌾💫

✨ Please note: Times and locations may change. Be sure to call or check online before visiting any resource listed.

11/03/2025

🚨 ATTENTION: SNAP & WIC Recipients 🚨
During the government shutdown, please read carefully 👇

10/31/2025

🎃 Stay Safe This Halloween! 👻

Keep trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween!
-Stick to sidewalks, watch for cars, and stay visible with glow sticks or flashlights.
-Drivers: go slow, stay alert, and watch for kids.
-Check candy for signs of tampering before eating.

10/29/2025

🍽️ Tonight’s dinner is brought to you by some of our favorite WIC-approved ingredients!

We’re cooking up something colorful and healthy — green peppers! 🫑 These tasty veggies aren’t just delicious — they’re packed with nutrition.

💚 Low in calories, big on benefits:

High in Vitamin C to boost your immune system

A good source of Vitamin A for glowing skin and healthy vision

Perfect for make-ahead meals — chop, stuff, or sauté for an easy weeknight win!

Healthy, budget-friendly — now that’s dinner done right! 💪✨

✨ Try this recipe below and taste how simple healthy eating can be. Your body (and your family) will thank you! 👇

🛒 Ingredients:
-8 green peppers 🫑
-2 lbs ground turkey or ground beef (your choice!)
-2 cups brown rice, cooked per package directions
-1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, or 2 cups fresh tomatoes, diced
-2 Tbsp tomato paste
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-1 onion, diced
-1 red or yellow pepper, diced
-1 egg
-1 cup Parmesan cheese
-1 clove garlic, minced

👩‍🍳 Directions:

1. Prep the peppers: Cut the tops off the green peppers and remove seeds. Rinse and set aside.
2. Cook the filling:
-Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
-Add diced onion, red/yellow pepper, and garlic. Sauté until softened.
-Add ground turkey or beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Mix it up: In a large bowl, combine the cooked meat mixture with cooked wild rice, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, egg, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until well blended.
4. Stuff the peppers: Spoon the filling into each green pepper.
5. Bake: Place peppers upright in a baking dish. Add about ½ cup water to the bottom of the dish. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 35–40 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
6. Serve & enjoy! Sprinkle with a little extra Parmesan if you’d like and serve warm.

10/28/2025

📢 Important Update for Kentucky WIC Participants

During the 2025 federal government shutdown, Kentucky WIC participants should continue to use WIC services as normal until further notice.

✅ Continue using your eWIC cards as normal.
✅ WIC-approved stores can still process purchases.
✅ Keep your WIC appointments and stay in touch with your local WIC clinic.

WIC services are operating as usual until further notice — please continue to access the support you and your family need.

🔗 More information about the Kentucky WIC Program:
👉 https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dmch/nsb/Pages/wic.aspx

ℹ️ For SNAP benefits information:
👉 https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/Pages/default.aspx

10/27/2025

🌟 Did you know?
There’s a FREE statewide program in Kentucky that helps people access the medications they need. The Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP) can assist you or someone you care about. Call today to see if you qualify.

📞 Call 1-800-633-8100
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. EST

Our Healthy Kentucky Home works to promote helpful resources available to Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. Do you rely on monthly prescriptions or supplies? If the answer is yes, you may qualify to receive them at a lower cost. The Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP) is a resource that helps qualifying individuals identify sources of free and low-cost medications offered by pharmaceutical companies. To see if you qualify for prescription assistance, call the KPAP Hotline at 1-800-633-8100. Visit OurHealthyKyHome.ky.gov to learn more. Join the campaign.

10/23/2025

🎀 During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re reminding everyone of the importance of regular breast cancer screenings.
Early detection can save lives — and screening services should be accessible to all, regardless of income or insurance status.

We’re committed to sharing the resources needed to make screenings available to every woman, because every life matters.

📍 Find low- or no-cost screening options near you by scanning the QR code or by visiting
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dwh/pages/cancerscreening.aspx

📞Need help? Call (844)249-0708 for assistance

Your health matters. Take 10 minutes today to protect your tomorrow.

10/22/2025

💊 Needing to get rid of old, unused medications?
This Saturday, Oct. 25, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across Kentucky!

✅ Drop off: tablets, capsules, patches, solid meds
🚫 No syringes, sharps, or unsealed liquids
🧴 Cough syrup? Keep it sealed in the original bottle

Scan the QR code to find the nearest drop-off location. Let’s keep our homes & communities safe!

10/21/2025

🦠 Stop Listeria Before It Starts! 🧼🥗

Listeria can hide in your fridge & ready-to-eat foods — protect yourself with these easy tips:

✅ Keep your fridge below 40°F (4°C)
✅ Wash fruits & veggies thoroughly
✅ Reheat leftovers thoroughly
✅ Avoid unpasteurized dairy & deli meats (if pregnant or at high risk)
✅ Clean spills & surfaces regularly

📌 Stay safe. Stay fresh. Stop Listeria.

10/20/2025

🛑 No level of lead is safe in a child’s blood.

It's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Let’s protect our families together! 🏠👶

Lead poisoning is 100% preventable — yet thousands of children are still at risk. This week, learn how to keep your home and community safe:

🔍 Get your home tested — Especially if built before 1978
🧼 Clean often — Use wet methods to reduce dust
🚰 Use cold tap water — For drinking, cooking & baby formula
🩺 Get kids tested — Especially under age 6

10/17/2025

🩸 Give the Gift of Life – Donate Blood! 🩸

Join the Mercer County High School for a local blood drive and help save lives!

📍 Location: Gym (Mercer County High School)
📅 Date: Wednesday, October 22nd
⏰ Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
💉 Scan the QR code to sign up!

Let’s come together and make a difference — share this post and bring a friend! ❤️

10/16/2025

🟣 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 🟣

Domestic violence isn’t just physical. It can be psychological, emotional, verbal, sexual, digital, or financial—and all forms are harmful and serious.

🚫 Controlling someone’s money
🚫 Isolating them from loved ones
🚫 Constant belittling or threats
🚫 Monitoring calls, texts, or social media
🚫 Using fear or guilt to manipulate
🚫 Physical harm or intimidation

All of this is abuse. All of it matters.

💜 This month, we raise our voices for those who feel silenced.
💜 We recognize all survivors and the many ways abuse can show up.
💜 We work toward safe, healthy relationships for everyone.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it’s important to recognize how sexual violence and domestic violence often overlap - both stem from abuse of power, and both thrive in silence.
At the SVRC, we believe awareness leads to action. By learning, speaking up, and showing compassion, we create safer spaces for survivors to reclaim their voices. We support survivors of all forms of violence, reminding our community that healing and safety are possible.

GreenHouse17 provides safe housing, advocacy, and healing support for survivors and their families across Central Kentucky. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, their 24/7 confidential hotline is available at (800) 544-2022.