Hope Program Accepting Applications

The HOPE Program is once again taking applications for rental and utility assistance.Contact the Hope Program, 888-927-5467 to apply. The state is taking applications from 88 counties, and if you are one of the 12 counties who are handling one of their own programs, or you are a registered member of a North Carolina tribe, you will be directed to the right assistance program. This application round is limited to applicants who are 50% of area median income (AMI) or below. This round of applications will cover 12 months of rental payments (9 months of arrears, 3 months of rent). For more information: See HOPE Program Overview >>.

June  – National Healthy Homes Month

Each year, National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) is organized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH). This year’s theme is The Power of Partnerships.

NHHM is an invitation to bring together partners, such as community-based organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments, and others, around two common goals:

• To increase awareness of potential indoor environmental health-related hazards, including lead poisoning, especially for vulnerable and underserved populations.
• To encourage residents to take the actions and steps for safe and healthy homes.

There are 8 principles of a Healthy Home: keep it dry, keep it clean, keep it safe, keep it well ventilated, keep it pest-free, keep it contaminant-free, keep it well-maintained, and keep it temperature controlled.

To learn more about the principals of a healthy home and to view the healthy homes calendar: HUD Healthy Homes toolkit >>

Summer Meal Program

As the school year comes to an end, schools, districts, and community organizations are once again preparing to serve free meals for kids at sites across North Carolina all summer long. Text ‘FOOD’ to 877-877 for location information.

Five  Tips For an Eco-Friendly Picnic

As the chill of winter fades, many Americans turn to picnics as a way to experience the outdoors and spend quality time with family and friends. But eating outdoors isn’t just ideal for safe, pandemic-era, socially distant fun, it’s also a perfect opportunity to practice eco-friendly habits. The next time you head to your favorite grassy hillside or park, consider: What’s in your picnic basket?

Tips For An Eco-Friendly Picnic Basket

1. Plan ahead
   Create a menu in advance so you prepare just the right amount of food. Have leftovers? Bring reusable containers so you can take them home with you. Compost any scraps.
2. Ditch single-use plastics
   Opt for reusable items—silverware, plates and cups, glass containers, water bottles, and cloth napkins—for transporting and serving food. These limit waste while keeping plastics out of landfills and vulnerable ecosystems.
3. Keep it local
   Walking or biking to picnic areas closer to home is carbon-free—and it’s good for you. Taking public transportation or carpooling to your destination can also save money on fuel and parking and reduce your environmental footprint.
4. Eat mindfully
   Limit your consumption of high-impact foods, balance meals with a variety of nutritious ingredients, and choose in-season foods. By visiting with local farmers, ranchers, and farmers markets, you can better understand how and where your food was grown—and become a more conscious consumer.
5. Shop sustainably
   Seek out items with labels indicating certification as sustainable or crafted from recycled or responsibly sourced materials. Learn how to make your picnic basket eco-friendly at  World Wildlife Org magazine.

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day – June 7

Here’s a little-known chocolatey morsel of info for National Chocolate Ice Cream Day — chocolate ice cream was actually invented before vanilla. You heard right — the earliest ice cream flavors were modeled after drinks, so chocolate naturally came before vanilla because hot chocolate was very popular in 17th-century Europe. In fact, the first frozen chocolate recipe was published in 1692 Naples in the book “The Modern Steward,” and much later chocolate ice cream found its way to the U.S. This day falls on June 7 to help us channel our inner Willy Wonka and pay tribute to this decadently frosty treat.

What’s the #1 Ice Cream Flavor?
To celebrate National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, the National Today data science team surveyed 1,000 Americans about their ice cream-eating habit. Here are Americans’ favorite ice cream flavors.

AMERICA’S TOP 9 ICE CREAM FLAVORS:
#1: Mint chocolate chip (16%)
#2: Chocolate (15%)
#3: Cookies and cream (15%)
#4: Vanilla (12%)
#5: Butter pecan (11%)
#6: Rocky road (10%)
#7: Strawberry (10%)
#8: Chocolate chip (5%)
#9: Neapolitan (4%)
Celebrate National Chocolate Ice Cream Day by visiting an ice cream parlor.
If you find yourself hoping for an “old-timey” experience to celebrate National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, head on over to your local ice cream parlor or diner and order a milkshake or sundae. Whatever chocolate flavor you desire, a day at the parlor will be a sweet time.

Rainbow Sugar Chart

Children love playing with play clay. Your kids might be getting restless after a long winter, so play clay provides an excellent activity to do if the weather isn’t quite right for playing outside. Have fun with mixing colors and making all sorts of unique designs. You’ll enjoy seeing your children’s imaginations at play!

Rainbow Sugar Chart >>