This Thanksgiving,
Give Water
Thankful for what we have, let’s raise funds together to ensure local families unable to pay their water bill are not without this vital resource. Every dollar donated to OWASA’s Care to Share Customer Assistance Program supports neighbors in Carrboro and Chapel Hill in need.
Thankful for what we have, let’s raise funds together to ensure local families unable to pay their water bill are not without this vital resource. Every dollar donated to OWASA’s Care to Share Customer Assistance Program supports neighbors in Carrboro and Chapel Hill in need.
This Thanksgiving,
Give Water
Care to Share is administered by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service. The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) supports people who live or work in Chapel Hill or Carrboro. People seek financial assistance because they experience chronic poverty or acute financial crisis. Care to Share, administered by IFC, serves more than 200 families annually.
It's easy to give:
Through your monthly bill
if you are an OWASA customer
With a one-time gift
to Care to Share
It's easy to give:
Working day and night
Even people who live in dual-income households struggle to make ends meet in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. This year, a man came to IFC requesting assistance because he and his wife missed their mortgage payment in February for the first time in 10 years. A number of unexpected expenses, including a $900 car repair, crunched their budget. IFC assistance, including support from Care to Share to cover the water bill that month, helped stabilize their immediate crisis. They are making plans to increase their household income: she is looking for a second job and he drives for a ride-share company after his day job.
FINDING COMMUNITY
A friendly woman in her 50s is a frequent visitor to the IFC Food Pantry, often stopping in for no other reason than to catch up with folks in the community. Her younger child graduated from high school this year and is leaving home, but she is not an empty nester. She is the permanent and primary caregiver for her older child, who is in her 30s and has disabilities that prevent her from living independently. Meeting her family's basic needs in Carrboro is a constant challenge. Support from IFC, including Care to Share to assist with a water and wastewater bill, has helped her and her daughters.
A rough time in retirement
A retired couple in Chapel Hill never thought they would have to ask for help because they retired from good jobs. However, they endured a season where their finances were tight due to healthcare costs. The wife, a woman in her 60s, fearing shame and stigma, broke down crying during her visit to IFC for food and financial assistance, including Care to Share for that month’s utilities. Now she gives back as a dedicated weekly volunteer, sharing her own story and offering an empathetic ear to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation. She wants to make sure no one is afraid to ask for help from IFC and Care to Share.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Care to Share has been supporting neighbors since 1997. The program is administered through the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) and supports 200 families annually. OWASA does not deduct any administrative expenses from donations, which support neighbors in Carrboro and Chapel Hill in need. Last year, Care to Share raised approximately $10,000; IFC received requests for utility support exceeding $13,000.
Our goal is to sign-up more OWASA customers for monthly bill contributions. We also aim to increase the number of one-time donations among community members who are not OWASA account holders. Throughout this fiscal year, we aim to raise $15,000 for the Care to Share Customer Assistance Program.
OWASA is an Authority mandated by the State to deliver water and wastewater service at the cost of the service. Legally, OWASA cannot reduce rates or directly provide bill assistance. All of our customers must be charged for our costs to serve them.
Because the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) is a 501(c)(3) charity and OWASA is a public agency, donations may be deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.
Invite family and friends to donate too. Share information about Care to Share Day in your community, at work and at school. Tweet it, post it, tell everyone about it! #caretoshare
