Give Money Wisely To McDougald Terrace Charity Campaigns; Items Needed

Durham, NC – The Durham Housing Authority has relocated more than 300 residents of the public housing complex McDougald Terrace as a result of elevated carbon monoxide levels and mold. If you are considering making charitable donations to help relocated residents, make sure your donations will actually get to the people who need it.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein’s office has been notified of potential fraudulent campaigns claiming to raise money for McDougald Terrace residents. They have been in contact with GoFundMe to shut down fraudulent campaigns.

Look out for unauthorized or fraudulent charities. The Durham Housing Authority advises that the ONLY entities authorized to raise funds for McDougald Terrace are the United Way (https://unitedwaytriangle.org/durham-one-fund/ ) and the McDougald Terrace Residents Council (https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-good-neighbor-fund). Please do not donate to any other online charity campaigns.

In general when donating to charities, be cautious of crowdfunding websites and unsolicited emails, text messages, and social media posts asking you to donate. Research charities before giving by calling our office at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM and checking their license with the Secretary of State. You can also use resources including the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar to research charity organizations.

If a company contacts you and you’re unsure of their authenticity or if you believe that you have been the victim of a scam, contact our office’s Consumer Protection Division at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

ITEM DONATIONS

The residents who chose to leave their apartments are currently spread between 11 different Durham hotels.

Ashley Canady, the president of the McDougald Terrace Public Housing Resident Council, is also collecting donations for residents. The list of needed items includes:

• Gently used clothing for men, women and children.
• Jackets and sweaters.
• Hats and scarves.
• School supplies.

New items:

• Feminine products.
• Baby food and formula.
• Non-perishable food and canned goods.
• Cleaning supplies.

Donations can be dropped off at 51 Ridgeway Avenue, Apartment B in Durham or at the restaurant Zweli’s Kitchen, located at 4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham.

Northstar Church of the Arts, located at 220 W. Geer Street in Durham, will serve as a donation site Jan. 10-12th. On Friday, donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Salvation Army is accepting donations to support McDougald Terrace residents from 8 am to 4 pm weekdays at 909 Liberty Street in Durham.