Winston DHR benefit yard sale Saturday

DOUBLE SPRINGS    - Although the federal government reopened November 12, after a 43-day shutdown and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits have resumed, a major effort is being taken by the Winston County Department of Human Resources to make sure the needs of struggling families continue to be met.
A multi-family indoor yard sale, sponsored by Winston DHR, will be this Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Double Springs Community Center on Highway 278, where the public can come shop and pick up some bargains from a variety of items, stressed DHR Director Tracy Norwood.
All of the proceeds generated from the yard sale will be donated to Winston County DHR local funds, which will be used to help struggling families throughout the holiday season, Norwood said.
“Our staff got together and decided they would like to assist in something like this, when the issue came up in (October), about SNAP benefits,” Norwood pointed out.  At that time, families who receive SNAP benefits saw those benefits suspended, leaving a lot of concern nationwide about families potentially going without food.
“We got to thinking, if we could increase our local funds, then we could help more people, should the need arise,” she added.
“You don’t ever know what the future holds,” Norwood emphasized. “And a lot of the funding we receive is basically earmarked. It can only be used for certain things. 
“We accept donations and contributions throughout the year that can build up our local funds, that we can use at our discretion when there is a need,” Norwood stated.
Funds generated from Saturday’s indoor yard sale can be used, for instance, to purchase groceries for struggling families, pay a power bill or assist with Christmas, according to Norwood.
“We are very blessed in Winston County,” she added. “We have wonderful sponsors that always step up for our families at Christmas.
“We have contributions we receive from churches, individuals, civic organizations, businesses,” Norwood continued. “We stretch those local funds throughout the year for things such as that.
“And this (yard sale) will just add to that pool of money, so that it can stretch a little further, if the need arises,” Norwood said.
“There is a need,” she admitted. “There are a lot of community agencies that help with different things, but if it is a family that we’re already working with and we are involved in and we can help them in some way, that is what we want to do.”