Durham County Employees Launch Food Drive to Help SNAP Recipients Who Could Miss November Benefits
Durham, N.C. – As the U.S. Federal Government shutdown continues into its fourth week and with the expected disruption of November food and nutrition benefits, Durham County Manager Claudia Hager has asked Durham County Employees to pitch in and donate food items to assist impacted residents as part of the DCo Staff Coming Together to Support the Community Food Drive.
The idea of the DCo Staff Coming Together to Support the Community Food Drive originated with Department of Social Services Director Maggie Clapp who launched an initiative within the Department of Social Services to collect non-perishable food items for residents experiencing food insecurity, many of which receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Director Clapp and Crystal Anderson, Program Manager for Food and Nutrition Services at DSS, were recently featured on Spectrum News discussing the urgent needs facing our community and how residents can support this important effort. You can watch the news story at the following link: Nearly $6 million in SNAP benefits at risk in Durham Co.
Employes who are to participate in the internal food drive have been asked to contribute the following most needed items:
- Nonperishable food items
- Dry goods and grains
- Canned fruit or canned meat with ring lids (many lack can openers)
- Ready to eat items and snacks
While the DCo Food Drive will run through Friday, November 7 for Durham County Employees, the greater Durham community is being encouraged to help the more than 32,000 Durham County residents who receive SNAP benefits.
SNAP is the largest nutrition assistance program in our nation, helps recipients supplement their budgets to purchase groceries such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, breads, cereals, and more. Eligibility is based on household income, size, and certain expenses, with most households having a gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. These families are often elderly, disabled, or working very low wage jobs
Here are some Durham community locations that are available to receive donations:
|
Site |
Address/Information/Link |
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Emanuel Food Pantry |
2504 N Roxboro St., Durham, NC 27704. Accepts shelf-stable goods like rice, beans, pasta, canned tuna/chicken etc. Emanuel Food Pantry+1 |
|
Urban Ministries of Durham (Food Pantry) |
They accept “food and goods” donations — non-perishables + other items. Urban Ministries of Durham |
|
Durham Rescue Mission |
Drop-off locations: Men’s Division 1201 E Main St., Durham, NC 27701; Women & Children’s Division 507 E Knox St., Durham, NC 27701. They accept “Food” items among gift-in-kind. durhamrescuemission.org |
|
Christian Assembly Emergency Food Pantry |
5516 N Roxboro Rd., Durham, NC 27712. Open 2nd & 4th Thurs afternoons (4-6 PM) for distributions; good candidate for drop-offs. Food Banks |
|
Durham Center for Senior Life – EATS Program |
406 Rigsbee Ave., Suite 202, Durham, NC 27701. Program for age 55+; they have bag distributions Mon/Wed/Fri etc. Donations of pantry items/hygiene help. Durham Center for Senior Life |
|
Durham Tech Campus Harvest Food Pantry |
At Durham Technical Community College: Building 3-110, Phillips Building. They accept non-perishable/stable groceries, hygiene items, fresh produce. Email pantry@durhamtech.edu to arrange. Durham Tech |
In her request for help for SNAP recipients, County Manager Hager concludes, “Thank you in advance for your generous efforts to support our community in this important way.”
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