More major hurricanes strike North Carolina in August and September than all other months combined. The best way to stay safe is to stay informed.
"We have 18 Twitter feeds that instantly update citizens on real-time travel conditions, as well as changes to our ferry schedules," said Lisa Schell, the N.C. Department of Transportation's new media coordinator. "In an emergency, we'll immediately send out tweets alerting the affected areas about road closures, flooding, dangerous driving conditions and evacuation routes." 

The department's Twitter feeds provide easy access to travel information for North Carolina residents. Twitter is accessible on hand-held devices even if traditional telephone service and electricity is disrupted. NCDOT's goal is to keep motorists safe using the "know before you go" approach. The department encourages citizens to check Twitter on their computers or smartphones before they leave home, work or school, but not while driving. Behind the wheel, they should be focused on one thing only - operating the car safely.

NCDOT maintains Twitter feeds. For a complete list, visit http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter/default.html.  Citizens are also encouraged to use the department's other social media tools - Facebook, Flickr and YouTube - for valuable transportation information.

Food Bank, food pantry, if you are like most people, you've probably heard these terms without quite understanding what they were. Many people do use these words  interchangeably to refer to any place that distributes food to the poor. But in most communities, these are different organizations with very different jobs.
America's Second Harvest is actually the largest charitable hunger-relief organization in the United States and is a network of more than 200 member food banks and food rescue organizations.

This network secures more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and groceries every year which provide food assistance to over 25 million low-income hungry people annually. These food products don't come from just groceries and restaurants, they are also collected from farmers, processing plants, manufacturers, US Fish and Game, and corporations. This food is typically stored in a food bank until it can be distributed.

A food bank is a huge warehouse repository that accepts all types of grocery products for redistribution. In addition to food, they often accept other types of non-food items as well. Perishables are checked for quality, stored in refrigerated rooms and quickly distributed before they reach their expiration date. Meats are put into deep freeze, and canned goods and dry staples are stored and shelved. Food Banks generally don't distribute directly to the poor, but distribute this food and non-food items to agencies or special programs that do.
[from associated content]

In 2010, Feeding America, the Nation's Food Bank network, in
conjunction with 185 food banks and assisted by
Mathematica Policy Research, conducted a survey to
better understand hunger in America, the clients who
receive emergency food assistance, the food banks
and agencies that assist them, and the network's accomplishments and challenges.

In our last fiscal year, the Food Bank of the Abemarle provided over 3,598,490 pounds of food. That was a 12% increase from the prior fiscal year. The food was provided to 108 agencies in the 15 counties they serve. The Food Bank worked with many organizations and individuals to acquire the food and bring
it to northeast NC. For example, 16% was from other Food Banks, 5% was from Feeding America, 23% was provided
through the NC Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
20% came from the US Department of Agriculture,
and a whopping 36% was the result of regional donations.
The donations, both food and financial, came from retail
stores, farmers, food drives, special events, grants, appropriations, and many, many individuals.



A food pantry is one type of direct distribution agency that distributes food to the poor. Pantries are typically staffed by volunteers and sponsored by local faith communities. These volunteers may receive food through  private donations, the USDA commodities programs, or through a Food Bank network.  Low income individuals and families can visit these pantries to receive a bags of emergency groceries.

To be continued.  Contributions from organizations serving the hungry appreciated.

On September 21st, the Outer Banks Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition will begin its 2010 - 2011 Season with the showing of the Hunger Season. The film documents the massive food crisis unfolding. Climate Change, increasing consumption in China and India, the dash for Biofuels are causing hitherto unimagined food shortages and rocketing prices.  This has already provoked unrest and violence from the Middle East to South America and there is no end in sight in the coming months. The people who are going to be most sorely affected are those already living on the razors edge of poverty, those dependent on food aid for their very survival. As commodity prices have risen by 50%, the UN Agencies have barely half the budget they need to meet the needs of 73 million hungry people they are currently feeding.  We could be facing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of all time if governments do not commit more resources. It is time to examine the system of food aid and question the extent of our commitment to ending hunger.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 5.3 million Americans have not yet been diagnosed.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is linked to the cause of degenerative memory and thinking disorder.

Join us for our Second Annual Walk for the Mind on September 11th, 2010 at 9am, held at Roanoke Island Festival Park, as we help to  support our local caregivers and community members suffering from dementia. With the money raised, GEM  will provide scholarships & community  workshops  for  local Veterans and all Dare County families that will  benefit from  the program.

We will have several addresses, one on being a caregiver for someone with dementia.  Other speakers will speak on behalf of the local support group for the Wounded Warrior Project. The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  Its purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women;  To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members  For more information or to sign up, please call or email  Emily Karr: ekarr@darenc.com(475-5638)or Gail Sonnesso: gsonnesso@gmail.com(480-3354)  All donations are tax deductable. Registration is FREE, but it is $10 for a t-shirt if you register by September 1st.

 

 Surfing For Autism is an autism/asperger's awareness event each Summer on the Outer Banks of NC. Local surfers are partnering up with children who have autism/asperger's and introduce them to paddling, surfing, and a new way to have fun in the sun.

Watch this interesting and inspirational discussion on surfing and healing. And even more moving is this cool video on The Surving for Autism Event.  The Outer Banks Chapter of the NC Autism Society was the 2009 Chapter of the Year! They meet regularly, providing support to caregivers and educators, and promoting autism education throughout the community. Visit their website to find out how to become more involved locally.