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 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 ARTIST RELIEF:
A group of national arts grantmakers—the Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the MAP Fund, the National YoungArts Foundation, and United States Artists—is teaming up to put together Artist Relief. This initiative will help support the financial, professional, social, and mental well-being of artists affected by the coronavirus crisis. This group, along with a few additional grantmakers matched a $5 million launch by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. Practicing artists who apply must be age 21 or older, able to receive taxable income in the United States regardless of their citizenship status, and have generally lived and worked in the USA for the past two years. Artist Relief will be in operation through September; not every artist will be funded, but all are encouraged to apply. Click here for more info and to apply. 
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 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 DURHAM COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTEES, 1208 W Chapel Hill St, 919-490-0063, website:
DCLT is in need of general contractors and subcontractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, painters, concrete installers, drywall, masons, framers, roofers, etc) for housing renovation and repair projects. Call to make that connection. 
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:
The Durham County Board of Commissioners approved emergency funding for Durham residents who are in danger of being evicted due to loss of income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (This funding is both for those paying rent and making mortgage payments.) Here’s what helps determine if you’re eligible:
To get the ball rolling, call DSS at 919-560-8000 and ask about the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance. If you need this help, get on this as soon as possible. This assistance is offered only as long as funds are available. 
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:
The Durham County Library is starting to gear up for reopening. Library customers can now log in to their accounts or call 919-560-0103 to place a hold on books/CDs/DVDs and then pick them up. Materials can be searched (when you know what you’re looking for) or browsed. The Stanford L Warren Branch, and North, East, South, and Southwest Regional Libraries will be open for material pickups Tuesdays through Fridays 2–6pm and Saturdays 10am–2pm. The Bragtown Branch will be open Tuesdays through Fridays 2–6pm. If you don’t have a library card, click here and get a temporary, online digital card that will allow you to take out books and materials. 
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 aid 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. Click here to register. Additional free and paid classes and seminars are listed on the website:
news from GIVE BACK BOX, website:
The nice folks at Give Back Box have thought of a way to find a use for your Amazon and other shipping boxes while also helping homeless and other people in need. To participate in this wonderful reuse program, take your box, fill it with household items, toiletries, gently-used clothes, and/or nonperishable food items. Go to the website (see above) and download a prepaid US Postal Service or UPS shipping label made out to your favorite charity (or you can let them pick one). If you don’t have a printer, send your address to them via email, and they’ll mail it to you. You can also arrange to have the box picked up from your location or you can choose to drop it off at the closest UPS store. This is really great for people who have been wanting to drop items off at their local charity, but because of their work schedule, they couldn’t find the time. 
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 the NEW VISIONS OF AFRICA RESTAURANT, 1306 Fayetteville St:
The New Visions of Africa Community announces their participation in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. Locally, this program is run under the Durham Health and Human Services through their Child and Adult Care Food Program. Free snacks and meals will be distributed on weekday afternoons to people in need from 3 to 6pm. Grocery giveaways are held on Sundays at 1pm; be sure to sign in by 12:30pm. Contact Marcia Hargrove at community@nvoac.org for more info. Please note that you won’t be served if you’re not wearing a face mask. 
news from the NC WORKS CAREER CENTER, 1105 S Briggs Ave, 919-560-6880; website:
news from the NEHEMIAH CHRISTIAN CENTER, 514 Mangum St, 919-688-4203, website:
The Nehemiah Christian Center dispenses Free Bag Lunches Tuesday through Thursday, noon–1pm, and on Fridays, 10am–noon, they’ll be giving away Boxes of Produce. On Saturdays, 10am–noon, there’s The Big Give Back Grocery Giveaway. Curbside and at-the-door service are available. Visit Nehemiah’s Facebook page to see other programs, as well as virtual church services in both English and Spanish (Nehemias Espíritu de Vida). 
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 the WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER OF NORTH CAROLINA 114 W Parrish St, 2nd floor, 919-956-8889, website
The WBCNC offers free webinars for entrepreneurs (the information is useful for all). Here are some of the upcoming webinars; visit the website and get familiar with their services, including one-on-one counseling:
The WBCNC also announces the Cyber Security Pilot Program for young women ages 18 to 25 who want to enter this potentially lucrative field. Apply online for this training program and be sure to include a letter of intent expressing your interest and highlighting your dedication to completing the program. Ideally, candidates for this program will not be currently in college and from a “diverse” background. You’ll need something other than just a smart phone to get online. Click here for more info, and contact Roberta McCullough at rmccullough@theinstitutenc.org if you have additional questions. Submit your application by Friday, August 7, 5pm. |
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