• By April W Bowman
• Posted Wednesday, September 9, 2020

GIVEAWAYS PLANNED FOR COMMUNITY CENSUS DAYS IN SEPTEMBER

City and county officials are urging residents to come out, complete the census and then pick up free face masks, food and goodie bags with coloring books, gift cards and other items during four drive-through “community census days” in September.

The events will be held:

• Sept. 10, 4 – 6 p.m., Burton Street parking lot next to Kimberley Park Pool
• Sept. 11, 4 – 6 p.m., Bolton Pool, 1590 Bolton Street
• Sept. 17, 4 – 6 p.m., North Forsyth High School (enter off Shattalon Drive)
• Sept. 19, 10 a.m. – Noon, Enterprise Center, 1922 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Tiffany White, the chair of the Forsyth County Complete Count Committee, said, “By law we cannot complete the census for anyone. However, we will have volunteers there who can answer questions about the process as participants answer the census online. They can complete it on a smart phone, but our volunteers will have tablets for those who don’t have a mobile device. The whole process only takes five minutes and all people need to know is their address and the birthdays of everyone in their household.”

All participants are asked to wear a mask and remain in their vehicles.

After answering the census, participants will drive to additional stations where they will receive a box of food from the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina, face masks from Novant Health, and goodie bags with gift cards and other items. Giveways will be provided while supplies last.

“The federal and state government uses census counts to determine funding for lots of things we depend on, including roads, school meals, SNAP EBT, WIC, water and wastewater systems, college grants and much more,” White said. “That’s why we need everyone in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County to answer the census.”

The community census days are a community initiative made possible by the city of Winston-Salem, Second Harvest Food Bank of NWNC, Novant Health, The Hispanic League, The Twenty Inc., Lead Girls of N.C., Forsyth County, Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods, ScottCares Foundation, Boston-Thurmond United, Phi Beta Sigma (Delta Sigma chapter) and the National League of Cities.

You can also fill out the Census online or over the phone by going to my2020census.gov or calling 1-844-330-2020.