SMITHFIELD FOODS’ HELPING HUNGRY HOMES DONATES 80,000 POUNDS OF PROTEIN TO NORTH CAROLINA FOOD BANKS, RAISES AWARENESS OF HUNGER AT STATEWIDE FESTIVAL

SMITHFIELD, Va.– Sept. 8, 2016 – Today, Smithfield Foods announced Helping Hungry Homes®, its initiative focused on alleviating hunger across the country, will visit North Carolina marking National Hunger Action Month. Smithfield will provide more than 80,000 pounds of protein to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina during a series of donation events.

SOUTHERN PINES— Consumer Credit Counseling Services, a division of Action Pathways, will be relocating their Southern Pines branch office on September 1, 2016.  Their new location will be within Sandhills Community Action Program located at 340 Commerce Ave. Suite 20, Southern Pines, NC 28387.  Consumer Credit Counseling holds office hours in this location every Tuesday.  For more information, or to make an appointment, please call (888) 381-3720 or visit: actionpathways.ngo.

Thanks to PWC for promoting the Weatherization Assistance Program. Please watch this short video to find out the benefits of the Weatherization Assistance Program and how you can apply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzNOL2RqEqk

Action Pathways Human Resource Department professionals attended the June 2016 Employment Law Update on June 2, 2016 at Briar Creek Country Club in Raleigh.  The training included information on minimum wage initiatives, HB-2 and similar religious freedom laws, and the new I-9 form.  Attending on behalf of Action Pathways were Dr. Sadie Carter, Human Resource Director and Evelyn Miller, Human Resource Manager. 

As many as 4,000 households across North Carolina could be eligible for an energy makeover.  Duke Energy’s Helping Home Fund is a $20 million program authorized through an agreement with the N.C. Public Staff and approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission during the 2013 Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas rate cases.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, a division of Action Pathways, has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation just in time to help feed local residents.  Second Harvest Food Bank will use the gift to launch a new Mobile School Pantry initiative in partnership with Action Pathways Head Start Program.

FAYETTEVILLE— Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Fayetteville, a division of Action Pathways, will begin offering FREE tax preparation through the NC VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Coalition of the Carolinas on January 30, 2016 at their Fayetteville office.  Tax preparation services are provided by IRS Certified Volunteers.  Consumer Credit Counseling Services is located at 316 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC  28301.  The free tax preparation is for individuals who earned less than $53,000 in 2015. 

Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Fayetteville, a division of Action Pathways, is proud to announce that Carol Martin, Branch Manager, and Amy Kemp, Counselor, are now Certified Student Loan Counselors.  This certification is through The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).  Martin and Kemp will begin accepting student loan clients immediately at the Consumer Credit Counseling Fayetteville office located at 316 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC  28301.  Consumer Credit Counseling Services is a nonprofit organization, however there is a nominal fee for this

Action Pathways, formerly known as Cumberland Community Action Program, Inc. (CCAP) announces their participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Meals will be available at no separate charge to enrolled participants. The income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals by family size are listed on the back of this sheet. Children who are TANF recipients or who are members of SNAP or FDPIR households or are Head Start participants are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits.

Action Pathways, formerly Cumberland Community Action Program, announces a collaboration pro ject to teach four-year-old Head Start Children about symphony music with the help of a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

In celebration of Feeding America's Hunger Action Month, Food Lion Feeds will donate more than 1,200 service hours and more than 1 million meals through its inaugural "The Great Pantry Makeover" event. During the month-long volunteer service event, hundreds of Food Lion associates will volunteer at 38 local food pantries, which will help the grocer take another step toward its commitment of providing 500 million meals by the end of 2020.

The Executive Mansion lit up orange Thursday evening during a lighting ceremony to support Hunger Action Month in North Carolina. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Rick Brajer hosted the event on behalf of Governor Pat McCrory and First Lady Ann McCrory. N.C. Department of Agriculture Chief Deputy Commissioner David Smith, and Alan Briggs, Executive Director of the N.C. Association of Feeding America Food Banks, also spoke at the event.

SHFB in conjunction with Feeding America, announces Hunger Action Month, a nationwide call-to-action effort to mobilize people everywhere to get involved with ending hunger in America. Woodforest Charitable Foundation (WCF) and Woodforest National Bank (WNB) kicked off the month-long initiative with a $5,000 donation to Action Pathways, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina (SHFB). Woodforest National Bank provided our first corporate donation, kicking off Hunger Action Month.

Today, the Cumberland Community Action Program, Inc. (CCAP) announces its transition to a new name—Action Pathways, Inc. Since 1965, CCAP has provided services to low-income individuals in southeastern North Carolina. As the agency celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the change reaffirms its commitment to serving the needs of the region with a new name, new brand, and new vision for future service.