CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Invitations to take the census go out in mid-March, and your response could impact the state in a major way.
- According to Mecklenburg County, the state received nearly $24 billion in 2016 through federal programs guided by census data. Programs throughout the region use census data to drive decisions
- Second Harvest uses census data to determine the number of food-insecure people it needs to serve, which impacts how much food it aims to provide through 24 counties
- Mecklenburg County is asking people to go to meckcounts2020.com to learn more about the census
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio believes this year’s census will likely be the most accessible in U.S. history because it will be available online.
According to Mecklenburg County, the state received nearly $24 billion in 2016 through federal programs guided by census data. Programs throughout the region use census data to drive decisions.
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Metrolina supplies food to 800 organizations responsible for feeding thousands every week, including 25–30 percent of the food at Loaves and Fishes food pantry in Charlotte.
Second Harvest uses census data to determine the number of food-insecure people it needs to serve, which impacts how much food it aims to provide through 24 counties.
The data also plays into grants for Second Harvest.
“We get a lot of our federal dollars based on census data, and that helps all demographics in Mecklenburg County,” Diorio said. “It’s making sure we get every federal dollar that we deserve based on the people that live here.”
Mecklenburg County is asking people to go to meckcounts2020.com to learn more about the census, its importance, and how to volunteer to get everyone counted.