news from the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, 800-227-2345 x1, website:
The Road to Recovery program provides free rides to and from cancer-related treatments for Durham County residents. You need to give at least four business days’ notice, with the date, time, and location of your appointment. This service operates on weekdays, 8am to 5pm, and it relies on volunteer drivers—so if you have the time and ability to offer assistance as a driver, please click here for more information. Drivers might not be able to accommodate physically disabled patients, but it’s usually okay to take a friend/family member who can help you in and out the vehicle. 
news from the AMERICAN RED CROSS, Central North Carolina chapter: 4737 University Dr, Bldg 3, 919-489-6541, website.
Learn how to save a life and gain other skills that can come in handy in an emergency:
ONLINE CLASSES—These classes can be taken at your convenience after you’ve paid for them:
news from the ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF DURHAM, 2117 E Club Blvd, 919-560-0640:
APS of Durham (2117 E Club Blvd) offers dog and cat food (and kitty litter) for pet owners in the City of Durham/Durham County facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more info about the Pet Pantry and the link to the online application. You’ll need to be able to pick up your order after being approved and letting them know when you’re available. If you’re able to help, you can help APS of Durham by donating funds to one or more of their projects: the Pet Pantry (mentioned above), Adoption Assistance (reduction of adoption fees for people in need; covers exams, deworming, immunizations, microchipping, spay/neuter surgeries, heartworm testing (for dogs), and FLV/FIV testing (for cats)), Spay/Neuter service (lessens overpopulation, which can lead to neglect and abandonment), Heartworm Treatment service (gives dogs a second chance to be adopted), or Tiffany/Lifesaving Medical Treatment (helps provide resources for specialized medical treatment instead of giving up on animals with treatable conditions). 
news from the BOOK HARVEST RAPID RESPONSE CENTER, 2501 University Dr, 252-497-2665, bookharvest.org:
Need books? The Book Harvest has outdoor bookshelves filled with culturally inclusive children’s books. Your child is invited to browse and choose books to take home (and keep). If you need books for your program or service, check out Grab-and-Go, where you can drive up and receive a bag of new and gently used books (grouped by age: pre-k, k–grade 2, grades 3–5, middle school, and high school). This is available by appointment only, this month on Saturday, May 22, 1–5pm. 
news from the CITY OF DURHAM:
Click on the calendar to see all of the City of Durham committee, subcommittee, commission, board, and other meetings for the month of June. 
news from the CITY OF DURHAM:
If you’d like to get a job with the City of Durham, click here to view the current job openings. You’ll get to see the job type (part-, full-time, or seasonal), the hourly pay/salary, and when you click on the job title, you’ll be able to see the job duties/responsibilities.
news from the CITY OF DURHAM:
Low-income Durham residents facing eviction can apply for help from Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Duke Civil Justice Clinic. Together they run the City of Durham’s Eviction Diversion Program and have helped hundreds and individuals and families save their homes and apartments. Call Legal Aid NC at either 866-219-5262 or Robbie Breitweiser (in the local office) at 919-688-6396 x4540. Leave a message with your name and the best time to contact you. You’ll get a call back; please note the your phone will show that the caller is using a blocked or unlisted phone number. 
news from the CITY OF DURHAM — SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT:
You can drop off Hazardous Household Waste on Tuesdays and Wednesdays noon to 6pm, Thursdays and Fridays 7:30am to 3pm, and Saturdays 7:30am to 3pm, at 1900 E Club Blvd. They'll take paint, used motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, pool cleaner, strong cleansers, stains, varnishes, and fluorescent bulbs. If necessary, wrap the containers with newspapers to absorb spills and place them cardboard boxes for safe transport. For individuals only, not commercial users. Call the City of Durham—Environmental Resources Dept at 919-560-4381 or visit City of Durham—Hazardous Waste for more info.
news from the CITY OF DURHAM — WATER MANAGEMENT:
The City’s Department of Water Management is giving away “Fat Trapper” kits to help keep fats, oils, and grease (including meat juices, salad dressings, and condiments) from clogging up the pipes and causing backups. Included in the kit is a plastic fat trapper receptacle, an aluminum resealable bag, and a metal strainer. Click here to fill out the form for having one mailed to you (you can request a receptacle only, refill bags only, or the whole kit).
news from the CITY OF DURHAM — WATER MANAGEMENT:
The City has a Water Hardship Fund that can help you catch up with your past-due water bill. You can apply online for up to $240 in assistance (per year) if you have a documented hardship (such as loss of job), have past-due bills, and are in danger of having your water cut off. Click here to fill in an application form. Submit it, and when you’re contacted you might be asked to provide identification, proof of income, and a copy of your water bill. 
news from the CITY OF DURHAM and DURHAM COUNTY:
Durham residents who fell behind in their rents and are facing evictions because of COVID-19 can now apply for the Durham Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). (This is the combination City of Durham/Durham County program that got $9.6 million in federal funding that I mentioned last month.) ERAP is managed by the Durham County Department of Social Services, and you and get more info (in both English and Spanish) and put in your application by clicking here. If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll get assistance for up to 12 months, which includes both arrears and forward rent and utilities. If you need even more help, you might be able to get assistance for an additional 3 months. Public housing residents and those who get housing subsidies can get rental assistance to cover any portion of rent and utilities that they pay themselves. (Utilities include electricity, gas, water, sewer, wastewater, trash removal, fuel oil, and sometimes internet.) To be eligible for ERAP, someone in the household must be unemployed, have had their pay cut, and/or in danger of becoming homeless; the household incomes at or below 80% of the AMI (area median income, which in Durham is a bit more than $80,000/year for a household of three). 
news from the DURHAM COUNTY, 414 E Main St,
919-560-8000, website: Click on the calendar to see all of the Durham County committee, commission, advisory council, and other meetings for the month of June.
news from the DURHAM COUNTY, 414 E Main St, 919-560-8000, website:
Durham County is looking for bilingual Spanish-speakers who can volunteer to do client intake on first, third, and fifth Wednesdays, 5–7pm, at the Durham Community Food Pantry (at Catholic Charities, 2020 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 30,). For more info and to sign up, click here to visit the Triangle Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership Center.
news from the DURHAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, 414 E Main St, 919-560-8000, website:
DSS has a mobile app, which you can use to complete and send applications for Food & Nutrition Services, Work First benefits, and Medicaid. You can also send documents for Crisis/Emergency Assistance applications. Grab your cell phone and go to dssmobile.dconc.gov. You’ll need to enter your date of birth and either your social security number or county case number. The DSS Mobile App is a secure website. By using the camera on your cell phone, you’ll be able to “Click It! Snap It! Send It” and save lots of time and effort.
news from the DURHAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, 414 E Main St, 919-560-8000, website:
DSS is now accepting applications for the North Carolina Housing Opportunity and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program. Low- and moderate-income renters whose jobs were affected by COVID-19 can get rent and utility assistance to keep them from losing their apartments/homes and having their utilities cut off. This is a federally funded program (carried out by HUD (Housing and Urban Development). Rent assistance is paid directly to the landlord, including overdue and future payments, for up to 6 months. When you apply, you must be at least one month behind in paying your rent. Same procedure with utility payments (such as electricity, water, sewer/wastewater, and natural gas/propane). Start by calling 2-1-1. You’ll be screened and hopefully referred to Social Services (DSS) to complete the application process. If you prefer to do this online, go to nc211.org/hope. (Click here for Spanish.) Please keep in mind that you can only get help from a federally funded program at a time. If you’re already participating in a similar program, you can’t sign up for this one.
news from DURHAM COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE:
Durham County Fire & Rescue offers a free service where you can have someone carefully check over the child seat that you use in your car or van. There's no industry standard when it comes to their operation and installation and parents are often surprised to find out that they haven’t installed their child seat correctly. The Durham Fire Department no longer offers this service but three of the County stations do:
Be sure to call to make an appointment. 
news from DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY, website:
Tuesday, May 4 will be the first day we can enjoy 1-hour walk-in visits to our favorite regional (East, North, South, and Southwest) and branch (Bragtown and Stanford L Warren) libraries. (We’ll still have to wait a while for the Main Library’s grand opening, although we can still reserve materials online for pickup.) Book/CD/DVD reserves can still be made online for pickup at all Durham County Libraries, but we can now experience the pleasure of perusing the materials at our leisure (well, for an hour). Here are the current walk-in hours:
Only a certain number of people will be allowed inside at a time, and visitors are still being asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. The meeting and study rooms, water fountains, and one-on-one computer help are unavailable at this time, and in-person programming (special events) aren’t in the works just yet.
news from the DURHAM CRISIS RESPONSE CENTER, 206 N Dillard St, 919-403-6562 (English), 919-519-3735 (Español), website:
Anyone experiencing domestic or sexual violence can always have someone to talk to, and when ready, can help with taking steps to finding a solution. These helplines are available 24/7; if email is preferred, write to crisisline@durhamcrisisresponse.org. 
news from DURHAM TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE’s SMALL BUSINESS CENTER, Chesterfield Building, 701 W Main St, Suite 203, 919-536-7241 x4505, website:
Durham Tech’s Small Business Center offers classes, seminars, and webinars for aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs who want to ensure their success in business. Here are a few of the free seminars. Additional free seminars from small business centers across the state are listed here:
news from the ELLERBE CREEK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, website:
The 17th annual Beaver Queen Pageant will again be a virtual one. The pageant is all in fun but is actually a fundraiser for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association. Here’s how it works: Contestants in silly—some outrageously so—costumes compete for the title of Beaver Queen. (Not all contestants are women—that’s part of the wacky factor.) They vie for votes with their antics, personalities, and talent—and at this particular competition, bribing the judges is encouraged. Voting (and bribing) all raise money for the ECWA. You can put in your vote ($5), and as they say in Chicago, “Vote early and often.” This year, instead of limiting the pageant to a single day, this fun event will be stretched over three shorter online events: Meet the Contestants on Saturday, May 8, 6pm, followed by the Talent and Stage Presence episode on Saturday, June 5, and the Final CORONAtion episode on Saturday, June 12. Click here to view the contestants’ videos, submit your vote(s), and see how the voting is going and how much money has been raised so far. 
news from GO DURHAM and GO TRIANGLE, website and website:
GoDurham and GoTriangle are offering free shared rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Call GoDurham at 919-560-1551 or GoTriangle at 919-485-7582 to schedule your ride at least 24 hours in advance. (I was given the hint that afternoon spots fill up quickly; try your best to get a morning appointment.) 
news from KIDS VOTING DURHAM, 721 Foster St, 919-560-7321, website:
Kids Voting Durham is looking for young people ages 14 to 24 who’d like to volunteer this summer as youth interns. They’ll develop their outreach, writing, technical, design, and other skills while participating virtually with support from Kids Voting staff. They’ll also learn how Kids Voting Durham election guides, civic-education materials, and other projects are put together and will work on upcoming editions. Each volunteer will be asked to put in from 10 to 25 hours per week from Monday, June 21 to Friday, July 30 (dates are actually flexible). Apply for a position and include a personalized letter of recommendation; write to info@kidsvotingdurham.org or call 919-560-7321 if you have any questions, and click here to apply. 
news from the NASHER MUSEUM OF ART AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, 2001 Campus Dr, website:
The Nasher is still closed to visitors for now, but they’re offering free memberships (for a limited time). Gain access to members-only virtual talks and exhibits; get a free subscription to the museum’s e-newsletter, AND get access to hundreds of museums from across the country! If you’re interested, click here to apply for your free membership, and do it soon. 
news from the NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, a service of the Library of Congress, Washington DC:
The National Library Service, in cooperation with libraries across the country, hosts the That All May Read program. People with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that keeps them from reading or holding a book can have braille or audio books delivered to them free of charge. You can choose physical books or free downloads. Click here to get started. 
news from NCWORKS NEXTGEN, 112 Broadway St:
The NCWorks NextGen program is looking for referrals of young people ages 17 to 24 who are seeking work experience internships, paid classroom training, or job opportunities. Their aim is to help those in the most need, for example, those who are pregnant or parenting, involved (now or in the past) with the justice system, homeless, high school dropout, or low-income or laid off due to COVID-19. Young people can’t sign themselves up—they must be referred by an agency or organization. Contact NCWorks Next Gen/Eckerd Connects area manager Alexis Franks at 984-209-3100 or afranks@eckerd.org for more info, and click here to refer someone. 
news from the NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, website:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced the Bringing Summer Back get-out-the-vaccine campaign, and they’re inviting local community groups and organizations to get involved in making sure that as many people as possible get vaccinated for COVID-19 by summer. The 4-week campaign (May 9–15, May 16–21, June 6–12, and June 20–26) will be a fun, community-centered approach that will call on organizations (and influential individuals) to rally together to promote vaccination. If you’d like to participate, you can register to receive a resource toolkit with flyers and stickers, social-media posts, talking points, and suggestions for ways to take part in the campaign. Then, you can design and plan out your campaign, and run it for one week or up to all four. Be sure to use the hashtag so you can be highlighted by NCDHHS. Click here for more info and to get started. 
news from the NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, website:
Just a reminder that supplemental nutrition WIC benefits don’t roll over from month to month. Be sure to use up all of the benefits you’ve been given every month. You can download the Bnft app from the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android) to make sure that you never miss eWIC account updates. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announces an app, SlowCOVIDNC, which can let you know if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Of course, this only works if people who have tested positive submit their results for use of the makers of this app. Ideally, SlowCOVIDNC will play a part in slowing the spread of the virus. 
news from OPERATION MEDICINE DROP, website:
Formed by a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, the Riverkeepers of North Carolina, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina, and local law enforcement agencies, Operation Medicine Drop is an initiative that helps people safely dispose of expired and unused medications. A common practice is to flush them down the toilet, but that poisons the waters and endangers wildlife. Simply tossing them in the trash is also a bad idea. Someone could come along, fish them out, and use them as recreation drugs. A large percentage of overdoses and other drug-related problems are actually due to the abuse of over-the-counter medications (some of which have been improperly disposed of). Operation Medicine Drop provides safe dropoff points for those who want to get rid of their old medications easily and safely. Here are the Durham locations:
from SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives), website:
SCORE offers free, live webinars that are designed to help entrepreneurs plan for success and improve their prospects of running successful businesses. The local SCORE office is in Chapel Hill and they serve Orange, Durham, and Chatham counties. Free mentorships and a wealth of resources are also available. Here are the webinars on offer for this month:
news from TOGETHER FOR RESILIENT YOUTH (TRY), website
TRY (Together for Resilient Youth) has access to resources and wants to help people in Durham, Craven, Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties. You might feel isolated, need quarantine supplies, have COVID-19 symptoms, are just might need someone to talk to. Write to NCAHHH@aol.com and say that you’d like to fill out a Referral Request for anything mentioned above or if you need financial help for rent, utilities, food, or transportation. Ask about the 14-day COVID-19 kit. TRY is working in partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, COVID Social Support, Curamerica Global, and Duke University. 
news from WESTER AUCTION & REALTY, website:
Wester Auction & Realty will hold the seventh round of Northgate Mall Online Auctions on Thursday, June 3, 6pm. Items from several stores, including mannequins, displays, furniture, and store façades, will be sold to the highest bidders. You can get an onsite preview earlier that day from 10am to 2pm. Click here for more info and to put in your bid(s) online. Northgate Mall is located at 1058 W Club Blvd. |
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