Florence
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Durham County DSS Staff Recognized For Their Assistance During Florence To Robeson County DSS

@SpectacularMag

Durham, NC — Tropical Storm Florence left her indelible mark on the state of North Carolina, particularly in its eastern region, which was devastated by flooding and breeches of its many riverbanks.  Departments of Social Services (DSS) became overwhelmed by the needs of clients requesting emergency Food and Nutrition Services.

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Germaine Strickland (left), Supervisor at Robeson County DSS, with Meghan Russ at Durham DSS, assisting Ms. Strickland with work that needed to be done to get emergency food and nutrition needs met at Hurricane Florence.

The emergency food and nutrition program is known as D-SNAP. With many DSS clients displaced by Tropical Storm Florence, applications have overwhelmed impacted areas in the state. Durham County DSS was able to help their colleagues at Robeson County DSS by keying in and processing some 790 D-SNAP applications for Robeson County clients. Durham County DSS had select employees to work until 9:00 pm on a Friday night to ensure that clients in need received their benefits as soon as possible.

Durham, received a warm note of thanks from Velvet Nixon, Director of Robeson County DSS. “I am thankful for the support of Durham County DSS extended to us during this challenging and difficult time. Our (staff supervisor) Germaine Strickland stated being at your agency and working beside your staff was an awesome and rewarding experience for her. You and your staff went above and beyond our expectations and we are forever thankful.”

The extra effort DSS consistently provides is evidenced by the department recently receiving the Best Practices Award from the NC Social Work Institute. Meghan Russ, Program Manager of Durham DSS’ Family Economic Independence (FEI) Division and Rhonda Stevens, Assistant Director of FEI, accepted the award for the department.

By all accounts, it appears that Stevens’ team at Durham DSS may be up for another Best Practices Award for their efforts to aid their Robeson County colleagues.

Now that the state of North Carolina has also been impacted by Tropical Storm Michael, Durham County DSS remains committed to assist counties still recovering from Florence and now Michael, so that North Carolina citizens will be served.

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This photo was just taken Oct. 17th at the DSS Board meeting to recognize the team that took care of the people in Robeson County, ensuring that those residents received emergency food assistance. At back in the pink jacket is Rhonda Stevens Assistant Director of DCo DSS of Food Economic Independence at the front of the line, is Meghan Russ, Program manager of the Redeterminations team. (submitted)