Since 1790, the United States government has attempted to count the people living inside its borders every ten years. The twenty-fourth American census is now underway, and it will determine how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated over the next decade. Because census data is used to allocate funding for infrastructure, education, public assistance, and healthcare, it is vital that the communities of the Alabama Black Belt are counted.
Sowing Seeds of Hope welcomed Congresswoman Terri Sewell to its weekly radio show on June 17 to discuss the importance of the census for Alabama’s seventh district. According to federal estimates, Representative Sewell shared that each person counted in the census would result in approximately $755 in healthcare and human services. Each school-aged child counted would direct $1,355 to Perry County’s public schools, according to the Congresswoman.
Because of the difference that federal funding makes in Perry County, Sowing Seeds of Hope has worked collaboratively with local partners and state organizations like the Alabama Hard to Count Collaborative to maximize census participation in our community.
On July 1, Sowing Seeds of Hope staffed a Census Day event on the courthouse square. Marion residents were invited to drive up to complete their census and receive a free box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 62 households responded to the census at the event.
At food distribution events in May and August, community members waiting to pick up USDA Farmers to Families food boxes were asked to complete the census if they had not already done so. We also assisted local administrators at TEKPAC, one of Perry County’s largest employers, in coordinating their Census Day in August. Every employee present at the plant had the opportunity to complete the census while at work.
Sowing Seeds of Hope staff and volunteers helped community members complete the census at a COVID-19 screening in East Perry in June. They were also on hand during each night of Francis Marion School’s four-night Open House to help families respond to the census.
In total, Sowing Seeds of Hope has helped over 200 families in Perry County complete the census. We will continue to offer one-on-one assistance until the census closes on September 30. If you need help, please contact us at 334-683-4666.
