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Oklahoma May Tornado Disaster Relief Fund
United Way of Central Oklahoma has set up a May Tornado Relief Fund to meet tornado victims immediate and long-term needs. Donations can be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org by phone at 405-523-3598, 405-523-3597, or 405-236-8441 and by mail at United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK 73101 with notation for May Tornado Relief.
Now recruiting for AmeriCorps VISTA CODES 2013-2014 Positions!
Want to apply to become an AmeriCorps member? Visit our recruitment pages for position descriptions and stipend/benefits information: AmeriCorps VISTA: CODES
We are trying to recruit 15 volunteer mentors to become a Big Brother Big Sister mentor for 15 Pickens County children who are currently on a waiting list. Learn how you can make a difference in the life of a child by visiting Get Connected.
HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS
Statistics in Pickens County
HUNGER
-South Carolina ranks 7th out of 10 states with 24.4% of children under 18 living in poverty. There are direct correlations between poverty, hunger, and food insecurity.
-According to the local Feed-A-Child‘s website, 1 in 17 students in Pickens County goes home on Friday and does not receive adequate nutrition until they return to school the following Monday. Also, more than 700 students suffer from hunger in K5 through grade 12.
-Parents often restrict their own food intake and nutrition to protect their children.
-Low income neighborhoods frequently lack full-service grocery stores and farmers‘ markets where residents can buy a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. These areas are called 'food deserts'.
-According to the 2006 USDA study, 1,494 people in Pickens County lived more than one mile from a grocery store and did not have a car.
-Families without public transportation rely on small neighborhood convenient stores and gas stations where fresh produce and low-fat items are limited, if available at all.
HOMELESSNESS
-81 people were identified as homeless in the January 2011 Point in Time Count, 41 people we talked to did not have their own place and did not know where they would be staying the next week.
-Point in Time Count numbers were based solely on individuals who could be seen in the community and who were willing to admit to being homeless.
-In the 2011-2012 school year there were 1,449 homeless children in the Pickens County School District.
-Conservative homeless population estimate is 3000-4000 people in Pickens County.
-In 2011 United Way's 2-1-1 call report received 167 calls from Pickens residents seeking a homeless shelter.
-Pickens County currently does not have any homeless shelters. Residents seeking shelter are referred to other counties including Anderson, Oconee, and Greenville.
Hunger and Homelessness does exist in Pickens County
United Way Initiatives and Partnerships:
**Family Promise of Pickens County
**Dream Center of Pickens County
**Easley Community Garden
**Hunger Coalition with more than 75 individuals and agencies involved
Are you interested in learning more about Hunger and Homelessness here in Pickens County? Would you like to be involved with one of our Hunger or Homelessness committees?
Contact: Steven Lambright
Manager of Initiatives and Programs
Email: slambright@uwpickens.org
Phone: 864-850-7094 x108
