May 2020
Community Action COVID-19 Resources
and Funding Opportunities
Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies (SEACAA) has compiled a list of COVID-19 resources and funding opportunities for each state in our region. Find available resources and funding for North Carolina by clicking the button.

The NCCAA has also created a small list of resources and professional development opportunities on our website. Click here to access them.

CAPLAW also has excellent resources for general COVID-19 guidance and reopening guidance.
Agency News
Virtual Board Summit
There's still time to register your board members for our Virtual Board Summit on June 4th, from 10 am-3 pm. P articipation is free to board members. While the training day is designed for board members, participation from agency staff is welcome as well.

Find the agenda and presenter information here!
Success Story: Provided by Telamon
We are so proud of all the success our agencies achieve! These stories have been collected, adapted, and edited for clarity.
Apryl is a single, 32-year-old unemployed mother who wanted to provide a better life for her kids. She came to the PRIDE program pregnant and with a thirteen-year-old child. She was interested in starting a career as a pharmacy tech and getting her Pharmacy Technician certification. Piedmont Community College offered the certification online which allowed her to work on it despite the pandemic. The staff checked in on her throughout her time in the course to see how she was doing and make sure she had what she needed. Given her circumstances, she would have had to start the course over again if she had given birth before finishing. However, she worked hard and her dedication paid off! She was able to complete her certification before giving birth, and now looks forward to beginning her internship once the pandemic allows her to.  


This story represents one of thousands of customers enrolled in a program at their local community action agency.  Community Action Works!
Want to share your success stories? Send them to [email protected]
Community Action News, Publications and Features
This series of three workshops focuses on meditation and leadership. It's taught by Dr. Norman Anderson, a nationally known psychologist, a native of Greensboro, NC, and a graduate of North Carolina Central University (B.A.) and UNC-Greensboro (Ph.D.). Learn more or register here.
Congratulations  to Susan Lawrence for earning SIX consecutive grades of 100 for the YVEDDI Mount Airy nutrition site from the State Health Department! This kitchen serves nutritious meals to senior citizens. We appreciate your hard work and dedication to the seniors of Surry County. What an accomplishment!
Seth Friedman, Executive Director of Passage Home, created this short, informational video about the impact Passage Home has had on the community both before and during the pandemic. What a great way to highlight the work of community action and solicit donor support!
"The most recent counties to join NCCARE360 are Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Cabarrus, Duplin, Greene, Harnett, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, McDowell, Mitchell, Onslow, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Wayne, and Yancey counties. This latest regional rollout has launched with health care and community-based organizations, including the Salvation Army of Lee County, Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency, Inc, Duplin County Partnership for Children, and Feeding Avery Families among others."
Did you know your agency can receive donations through Amazon.com from online purchases? This program, called Amazon S miles, donates 0.5% of the purchase to an organization of the person's choosing. To use this feature, shop using the link smile.amazon.com . The prices for products do not change by using this link.

The NCCAA has set up our account! Add us as your donation organization using this link.

You can also set up your organization to receive donations. Use this link to start the registration process.
Thanks to the Bleachery Blvd. Walmart SuperCenter, 40 low-wealth families will breathe easier during these difficult times. A Walmart Community Grant for $2,000 will be used to purchase gift cards for food and clothing for Community Action Opportunities (CAO) Head Start families. Read the full press release here
Social determinants of health is a new buzz word within social services. Social determinants represent factors of our physical, emotional and social environment that have key impacts on our health. In fact, 80% of our health outcomes are determined by where we live, work and play. For more than 50 years, community action agencies have provided a variety of programs and services which improve social determinants of health for low-income citizens. Each month, we will highlight a Community Action Agency and their work to improve the living conditions and environments of
low-income citizens.
CAAs & Social Determinants of Health: Returning Running Water to a Home
This mont h's feature is WAMY Community Action . Their housing team sent us this touching story of helping a man who had no running water in his home for three months and didn't feel he deserved help.

"Michael", a Mitchell county resident, has mental health issues and very limited financial resources. He told the staff that he didn’t feel worthy to ask for any help. His water pump was not working, and he had gone for three months without running water in his home. He was surviving by going to friends’ homes to shower, wash clothes and use the restroom. He felt depressed and hopeless about his situation. But thanks to the Healthy Home Initiative funds, they were able to install a new well pump and restore running water in his home.

Thank you for all you do, WAMY! And thank you BlueCross BlueShield of NC for sponsoring this project!
NCCAA: SHOUT OUTS
Shout out and Congratulations!...... Amber Moore, Housing & Energy Coordinator and Sarah Freer, Program Assistant. Just a month ago, in the middle of this pandemic, WAMY's housing staff visited a 79-year-old lady who's house was full of garbage because she was unable to take it out and there's no garbage pickup in Yancey county. They were so touched and moved, they not only worked extra hard to find a way to help her, but they volunteered their own time to work in her home to reduce the cost of the job. It's an honor to have such incredible, generous people as part of our network. You really do change lives!

We look forward to their continued contributions to the NC Community Action network!
In Loving Memory: Andrea Harris
It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of an untiring pioneer, community action board member, former Executive Director, colleague and friend, Ms. Andrea Harris. Andrea will be greatly missed. We will continue to build on the incredible foundation that she laid.

You can read about her legacy from the BizJournal here or from the Self-Help Credit Union here .
NCCAA Events
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NCCAA Conference Day of Service Project: Fill Mother Hubbard's Cupboard
Just as in the childhood nursery rhyme, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard , would be bare without the generous donations of non-perishable food, money, and volunteers. This year’s Food Drive and Service Project for the annual conference will benefit the food insecure residents in Wilmington served by this local food pantry in the Wilmington area since 1985.

Support our Day of Service Project with your donation of canned goods if we meet in person, but honestly, a Walmart gift card – works whether we meet in person or virtually. All food and cards collected will be donated to Mother Hubbard’s Pantry. Feel free to invite others to join in.
Free Meditation and Stretch Sessions Hosted by SEACAA
Want a free meditation or stretching session? We are hosting weekly relaxing session every Wednesday at noon taught by Patrice Graham. All sessions are beginner friendly. Join us and relieve some stress!
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Webinar Training Series
Miss any of the webinars in our series? Email us at [email protected] to get the recording! Recordings are available at no cost to NCCAA members.

Visit our website for the list of webinars and presenters.
Funding Opportunities
Deadline: Ongoing

Community gardens are a great way to bring communities together and bring people closer to their food. It is also an opportunity for communities to learn about nutrition healthier ways of cooking. America the Beautiful Fund is offering up to 1,000 seeds to nourish and beautify America.

Deadline: Noon on Fridays, award notifications made the next Thursday

Agencies offering services for Gaston County residents in health, education, shelter, and/or emergency financial assistance for those experiencing loss of income are eligible for the Gaston County Virus Relief Fund Grant. This funding is in response to COVID-19 community disruptions.

Deadline: Open

Does your agency have an idea “that can help lead the way to a future where everyone in the United States can live their healthiest life possible?” If you have a plan for 5-15 years into the future consider the RWJF funding opportunity.

Deadline: July 22

Rural communities of 50,000 or less are eligible to apply for The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design. This is an opportunity to attend design workshops that address specific community challenges and provide ongoing support.

Deadline: July 1

If your agency is looking for funds in regards to education consider applying to Mebane Foundation. The first step is a phone interview with their president to determine if your proposal meets their objectives and interests.

Mark Your Calendar
June
4 | Virtual Board Summit , 10 am - 3 pm

July

August
26-28 | National CAP Conference , Seattle, WA

September

October
30-2 | NCCAA Conference , Wilmington, NC
30 | Board Summit , Wilmington, NC
30 | ROMA Pre-Conference, Wilmington, NC

November

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