Martin County Community Action is a non-profit organization that works to end poverty in Beaufort, Martin, and Pitt Counties. The organization addresses the root causes of poverty in the community, and works to provide resources and assistance to those in need. Programs that provide resources for children, such as Head Start applications, and employment resources for their parents. This means that the government will provide money to help pay for things like food, housing, and senior care.
The MCAI Information and Referral Service provides assistance to individuals and families in need. This program helps families in need by connecting them with agencies that can help them in Pitt or Beaufort County. In addition, members of the staff gather and sort data concerned with needs that exist throughout local communities. This is used to create new programs and services to help people.
The Martin County Community Action Food Pantry is set up like a grocery store, with different food items segregated into aisles. Clients are given the opportunity to browse the aisles and select whatever groceries or sometimes fresh items they wish to take home to their families. The amount of food you get is based on how many people are in your household and what food is available.
Vouchers for free food pantry visits are given out to clients by Case Managers, and those who need it more may be given more than one voucher at a time. They can get help with applying for food stamps.
Volunteers from the Home-Delivered Meals Program bring hot, nutritious meals to home bound individuals 60 years of age and older. This resource is for people who are unable to shop for food because of mental or physical limitations. There is help for people who can’t prepare meals, or make it out to Congregate Nutrition Program sites. The Meals on Wheels program provides meals for those who are homebound and unable to cook for themselves. The way that something is delivered is limited.
In addition to the preceding requirements, the client cannot have a friend or family member who is willing or able to provide them with those meals. The program also provides food assistance for a senior’s spouse, if one or the other is not able to leave their home because of an illness or disability. The Home and Community Care Block Grant provides funding for the program.
This program provides financial assistance to low-income households who are struggling to pay their electricity and heating bills. In some cases, it may also help with air conditioning bills during the hot North Carolina summer months.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families pay their heating bills. LIHEAP can help pay for a variety of heating fuels, including oil, natural gas, propane, kerosene, cord wood, wood pellets, light, and electric. Some households who have their heating costs included in their rental payments may be eligible for benefits from their local LIHEAP site.
The program only pays for the fuel that a family has used from November 1 to April 30. If you need extra help paying your electric bill, look for emergency assistance.
The state of North Carolina and Martin County Community Action supported Heating and Air Conditioning Repair and Replacement Program provides for the repair or replacement of systems in order to increase the energy efficiency, health, and safety of qualifying residents’ homes. A professional home heating and cooling inspection will determine whether the heating or cooling units need to be repaired or if a new one is necessary.
The Martin, Beaufort and Pitt families are eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program provides energy-efficient home alterations and other improvements to dwellings owned or rented by residents whose incomes are at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
The Weatherization Assistance staff members receive money from the State Department of Administration’s Division of Energy. With this money, they pay for a professional in-home energy audit. This audit helps them determine which energy-saving measures are most appropriate and cost-effective for each home.
The updates could include replacing old lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones, installing smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, sealing air leaks, insulating ducts, repairing or replacing furnaces, water heaters, and/or refrigerators, and adding extra insulation to attics or walls.
Head Start offers educational services. This is a free national preschool program for three to five-year-old children from low-income families. The parent can also benefit from this program. The program is designed to help young children develop emotionally, mentally and physically so they will be prepared for school. Head Start’s support services are designed to help every child succeed. They provide high-quality education, disability services and support, individualized curriculum, and health screening and assistance. This includes dental, vision, and hearing screenings and assistance. Parents can choose to participate in job placement services or sign up for Family Case Management.
Martin Community Action’s Mighty Men of Distinction Program helps fathers of Head Start enrolled children to get careers, education, jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities. MCAI will offer a wide range of support services in collaboration and partnership with local, state of NC, and national service agencies.
Commerce Street The Martin County Community Action is a organization located at 314 E. Commerce Street that helps low-income residents. Ray Street is located in Williamston, North Carolina and serves all of the surrounding counties. For more information, please call 252-792-7111.