Minutes 05-21-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dorothy Johnson said she is here on behalf of the Fairview Community Watch requesting $4000 to support their summer monitoring program at the Fairview County Park. She said the funds would be used for an adult monitor and a youth assistant to work in the park for 18 hours a week, for 8 weeks from June to August. She said the monitors assist in distribution of games and such to attendees and are a friendly presence to oversee activity and monitor unwanted behavior. She said the program was started in 2012 with a grant from the New Hope Presbyterian Church. She said the program has been a great success, and it is hoped that it will continue to grow from year to year. She added that raising funds has been a struggle and last year the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) saved the program. She said the neighborhood is of low income and would like for the BOCC to consider making this program an annual part of the County's budget. She concluded that Fairview Park is vital to the success and safety of the neighborhood and she commended the BOCC for all that it does for Orange County. Sharon Freeland is the Executive Director for Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM), and she thanked the Board for partnering with OCIM for almost 35 years. She said there are hunger issues in Orange County. She said she is a native of Orange County and she has seen hunger even with her former classmates. She said over the last three years, the OCIM food pantry has seen an increase of over a thousand individuals each year, adding that last year, 8900 individuals were served, of which 4500 were children. She said it is a privilege to OCIM to take the gracious bounty, and to share with OCIM clients. She said notepaper and pencils are kept in the OCIM reception area, in case clients want to leave their thoughts. She read one of those notes to the Board. She explained that the current OCIM policy states that a household may receive a week's worth of groceries six times, in a twelve month period; however, this is often not enough. She said OCIM does as much as possible to meet those extra needs. She is asking for additional funding to allow households two additional opportunities to visit the food pantry. She said OCIM would purchase perishable items and has asked United Way to fund a part time food pantry manager. She thanked the BOCC for their efforts in Orange County. Marci White is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of the Triangle. She said her outside agency request can be found on page 356 of the budget document. She thanked the BOCC for their ongoing support of the Advocacy Network program via County matching funds for State JCPC dollars. She said tonight she is requesting that the BOCC reconsider the staff recommendation to not fund a new and different program called Compeer for Seniors. She said $21,000 is being requested from the County to go towards a part-time position to develop this program. She said this program will target a specific and well documented Orange County need, especially in the outlying areas of the County. Compeer for Seniors will address isolation for seniors at risk of depression and for those in early stage dementia. She said the program will use volunteers to provide long term friendship through which trust and intimacy will occur. She said the Compeer volunteers commit to at least one year. She said the power of friendship is compelling and while the volunteers are not trained medical professionals, they are likely to notice subtle changes in health due to the close friendships established with the seniors. She said her agency works closely with the Orange County Department on Aging and are also a partner agency with the Family Success Alliance, and are the only partner physically located in Zone 6. She said her agency carefully considered the request being made to the County knowing that the County supports many of their other programs. She added that this particular program is necessary as the number of individuals with the aforementioned risk factors is growing. She said her agency is uniquely equipped and situated to deliver a very cost effective and meaningful service to Orange County senior citizens. Elvira Mebane said she is a parent of a child in the OCS, and she supports the budget for OCS. She said she is the President of United Voices of Efland-Cheeks, and is asking for the Board's support of the Efland-Cheeks Community Center. She said United Voices of Efland- Cheeks have been meeting with County staff about upgrades to this Center. She said this