Loaves & Fishes
During the coronavirus pandemic, Loaves & Fishes delivers food to homebound clients. The organization needs volunteer delivery drivers and food packagers.
Under regular circumstances, the holidays are tough financially for many families. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse as many families across our region face evictions, lost wages, temporary or permanent job loss, and more.
According to 2-1-1 services data in North Carolina, from Nov. 10 to Dec. 10 requests for rental assistance have increased 64% over the same timeframe last year. Food pantry assistance has been requested 28% more and requests for utilities have increased 72%. People were already struggling before the pandemic, said Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, the chief impact officer of United Way of Central Carolinas. There were already housing cost burdens, meaning they were spending 30 or 50% or more of their income on rent and housing costs. The pandemic has just exacerbated that. T
Announcements for Wednesday, Dec. 16:
Onslow County has received new positive cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 14. Positive cases now total 7,114, with 54 deaths, 6,493 cleared. Onslow County is at 12.3% positive, while the state is at 11.6% positive.
For specific demographic data, the state website now includes additional local demographic information at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/cases and a local view of testing and percent positive tests at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/testing. The total reported by the state for Onslow County is often about a day or so behind our county’s verified totals.
Covid-19 testing sites to get tested in Onslow County. Visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/./testing/find-my-testing-place
Last week Colorado legislators passed a coronavirus relief bill that will allocate millions to small businesses and nonprofits, including $5 million for Energy Outreach to help Coloradans weatherize their homes and assist with energy bill payments.
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) is a statewide organization that helps Coloradans year-round pay for electricity, natural gas, coal, firewood, kerosene, propane, oil, and wood pellets. The organization was established to address the growing gap between federal funding for energy assistance and the home energy needs of low-income Coloradans. In 2019, EOCâs bill payment assistance program provided over seven million dollars to serve approximately 20,000 households, including 5,000 rural households.