OCAS offers grant program for animal welfare initiatives

Orange County Animal Services is offering The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, a program to support animal welfare initiatives and projects in Orange County, thanks to a generous donation from Friends of Orange County Animal Shelter for that purpose. This is the seventh year the award has been offered, and it will be awarded for initiatives up to $500. Applications must be received by Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

The grant can be used for a wide range of pilot or seed projects or to supplement other programs, projects, and grants that support companion animals, including those animals used in recreation or therapy. It is available to individuals, groups, and organizations.

Recipients do not have to live in Orange County, but the funds must be used to aid animal welfare efforts in Orange County. Past recipients include Hope Animal Rescue, Independent Animal Rescue, NC Therapeutic Riding Center, Pet Pals, Trestle Leaf Web Design, Carolina Boxer Rescue, and Our Wild Neighbors.

The program honors Pat Sanford, former Executive Director of the Animal Protection Society of Orange County (APS). Sanford served there for 17 years, where she pushed for spay/neuter to combat the county’s pet overpopulation problem and helped expand the APS twice. After her retirement in 2002, Sanford continued her work for Orange County animals and served on the county’s Animal Services Advisory Board for several years.

Ms. Sanford’s accomplishments are vast and her contributions helped Orange County become one of the leading counties in the state and country for animal placement, recovery, and overall well-being. The grants awarded in her honor will support efforts that exemplify the same dedication and commitment to animal welfare in Orange County. The initial donation will sustain the program for a 10-year period. Additional donations are welcomed to increase the annual award amount and to extend the period in which the grant is awarded.

For more information on the grant, to find the application, and to find out more about giving opportunities for this program, visit http://www.orangecountync.gov/368/Pat-Sanford-Animal-Welfare-Award.

Applications open for Longtime Homeowners Assistance property tax relief program

Applications are now being taken for the Longtime Homeowners Assistance (LHA) program for 2022. In 2021, the LHA was a pilot program created by the Board of Commissioners that provided grants to homeowners for assistance in paying property taxes. The goal of the LHA is to provide property tax bill assistance to help people stay in their homes.

The board approved several changes for 2022 to boost participation, including reducing the requirement to have owned and lived in the home from 10 years to five years. The changes formalized policies for heir’s properties and those owned by Family Trusts to provide assistance based on the income of the persons who live in the household and not all the heirs or members of the trust.

The Orange County Housing Department administers the LHA program in collaboration with the Orange County Tax Office and Finance Departments. Homeowners can submit applications and supporting documents between August 1 through December 1, 2022 in a few different ways:
ONLINE: Applications and materials can be submitted online
DROPOFF: Paper Applications and drop-off boxes are available at Orange County Housing offices
Hillsborough- Whitted Building, 300 W Tryon St
Chapel Hill, Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd
GET HELP: Contact the Housing Helpline for assistance in completing LHA applications

919-245-2655
housinghelp@orangecountync.gov

Suicide Prevention Month Events to Address the Public Health Crisis of Suicide

From 2016 to 2020, 206 Orange and Durham County community members lost their lives to suicide. Throughout the month of September, the Orange County Health Department and Durham County Department of Public Health will host events to support survivors, to share how to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicide, and to teach what to do if a loved one is in danger. Events include:

A Path for Hope: Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk: On Thursday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Leigh Farm Park located at 370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707. The event is hosted by Orange County Health Department, Durham County Department of Public Health, Alliance Health, Insight Humans Services and Healthy Carolinians of Orange County. Prior to the walk, community members will gather to hear featured speaker Rwenshaun Miller, who believes that mental wellness begins with a conversation. Miller is an award-winning psychotherapist whose personal mission is to shift our society into one that acknowledges, addresses and treats mental health challenges. Miller is the Founder and Executive Director of Eustress, Inc., a non-profit based in North Carolina.

At the walk, 206 pairs of shoes will be on display to honor the 206 Durham and Orange County community members who lost their lives to suicide from 2016 to 2020. Gently used shoes, which will be donated after the event to those in need, are needed in advance of the event. To donate shoes or for questions about the walk, email Willa Robinson Allen at wrobinson@dconc.gov for Durham County or Ashley Rawlinson at arawlinson@orangecountync.gov for Orange County or call (919) 245-2440.

Come to the library in Hillsborough or Carrboro September 1-30 to sign up for a library card and get a denim tote bag, while supplies last. (Venga a la biblioteca en Hillsborough o Carrboro del 1 al 30 de septiembre para registrarse para obtener una tarjeta de biblioteca y obtener una bolsa de mano de mezclilla, mientras duren los suministros.)

Free Narcan vending machine available in lobby of Orange County Detention Center

The Orange County Detention Center is one of six detention centers in the state to receive a naloxone vending machine. The machine is stocked with free harm reduction supplies, including Narcan nasal spray kits (a brand of naloxone) and Covid tests. The free Narcan kits include Narcan nasal spray and instructions for use.

Naloxone works to reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the opioid receptors in the brain and restoring normal breathing. The detention center is a critical place to distribute naloxone to people in need as those leaving jail have been found to be 40 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose in the two weeks after leaving incarceration. A key component of North Carolina Opioid Action Plan is to make naloxone widely available.

Harm reduction supplies like naloxone and fentanyl test strips are critical in fighting the opioid epidemic. In 2021, 3,759 people died of opioid overdose in North Carolina, and 29 were Orange County residents. In that same times period, there were 4,154 reported community reversals of opioid overdose. Harm reduction seeks to “meet people where they are.” Substance use is complicated. Not everyone is able to abstain or ready for treatment, and treatment resources are stretched thin. Harm reduction fills that gap to keep people and the community safe.

Some risk factors of opioid overdose are mixing opioids with alcohol or other medications, taking opioids for the first time in a long time (on release from jail or detox), taking high doses of opioids, having existing kidney, liver, or breathing problems, and having a previous overdose.

Signs that someone is experiencing an opioid overdose are that the person is not responsive, not breathing well (slow or shallow), pinpoint pupils, lips or fingernails are blue, or vomiting.

In the event that you or someone you’re with is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 and administer naloxone if it is available.

The vending machine is located in the lobby of the Orange County Detention Center at 1200 US-70 West, Hillsborough NC (across from the DMV) and is available to the public 24 hours/day.

These vending machines were funded by a grant from the National Center for State Courts and facilitated by the NC Harm Reduction Coalition and NC Department of Health and Human Services. Vending machines were also provided to detention centers in Buncombe, Cumberland, Forsyth, Guilford, Pitt and Wilkes counties.

Orange County Arts Commission fall classes graphic

The Orange County Arts Commission offers many classes for youth and adults. Fall classes are accepting registrations now. Financial assistance is available.

Vote for Hi-Chew in Coolest Thing Made in NC contest

Morinaga’s Hi-Chew candy advanced to the second round of voting in the North Carolina Chamber's "Coolest Thing Made in NC" annual contest. The candy, made in Orange County, was nominated by the Orange County Economic Development Department.

Second round voting runs through Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. People can vote for Hi-Chew once a day.

Click here to vote.

Hi-Chew candy is the only Orange County manufactured item in this annual statewide contest. Morinaga employs around 225 people from our area and the company makes around 5 million pieces of Hi-Chew candy every 24 hours at the Mebane factory.

The Orange County Department on Aging will host a series of free Fall Prevention Clinics in September to present information on how to reduce and prevent falls.

www.orangecountync.gov