I have steady work, housing, food. Many in NC don’t. So I’m sharing my relief check.

My relief check

I recently learned from the IRS that my COVID-19 relief check should arrive any day. I do need some of it, but not all. I count myself among those privileged to have steady work, stable housing, and enough food during this crisis. So I found myself morally compelled by my neighbors and my faith to consider lost jobs, lost housing, food insecurity, and those who will not receive relief checks and need them anyway.

I am called as a minister and a person of the Christian faith to be in solidarity with those in poverty and made invisible by society. My friend Jose in sanctuary, my friend who lives in McDougald Terrace, or my siblings, who are essential workers with less pay, could all use the $1,200 more than I can.

I will be donating part of my check through the Bull City Stimulus Redistribution Collective website, linked to local nonprofits that I trust to get my relief check to those who need it most. I encourage my neighbors who find themselves in my position to help those who need relief. We can be the relief that allows a family keep their home, put food on their table, or receive medical care.

Rev. Breana van Velzen

Duke University Chapel Community Minister

NC jobless

With hurricane season just around the corner I am concerned about the unemployment issues occurring in North Carolina due to COVID-19. State leaders need to make sure the state implements programs now so that people won’t have to wait months to receive help like we did after Hurricane Florence - and like we are now during this pandemic. I completely understand the unemployment office has its hands full right now, but let’s start looking ahead instead of trying to play catch-up all the time.

Kara Neal, Newport

Miller’s op-ed

Regarding “Does data support closing NC businesses?” (May 13 Opinion)

I was stunned that the N&O would publish the op-ed by Desiree Zapata Miller at a time when COVID-19 has taken the lives of over 80,000 American men, women and children in the past two months.

The failed federal response to provide adequate, early testing means we still know very little about its true prevalence and mortality. Miller’s vague citations do nothing to support the rest of her case.

This virus is capable of wreaking havoc on us all. The COVID-19 medical updates I receive every day show young people having strokes, kidney, lung, and brain complications, children with life threatening illness. There is no treatment, no vaccine.

Miller asks us to rely on “the people” to make decisions about reopening. Sick and dying COVID-19 patients rely on the actions and decisions of doctors and nurses, health care workers risking their lives to provide heroic care. Our communities should rely on fact-based science to guide us; all of us are at risk.

Dr. Mindy Oshrain, Durham

Women’s prison

It has now been a year since N&O Associate Opinion Editor Ned Barnett reported on the lack of air conditioning in the women’s prison here in Raleigh. Summer is again approaching and there is still no a/c and now the prisons have an unwanted guest in COVID-19.

For God’s sake, let out the nonviolent offenders who are near the end of their sentences.

Barbara Quinby, Raleigh

Prison releases

The article “Paul Manafort released from prison due to virus concerns,” (May 13) is another example of “money talks” in our society.

Prisons are overpopulated with nonviolent offenders whose lives are at risk of contracting COVID-19, yet this once powerful public figure goes home while the legal system hems and haws about the early release of prisoners in this country who are of no risk to society and who don’t have the means (money for high profile lawyers) to get the same treatment.

Shame on our government for this and many other social inequalities that favor the rich and powerful.

Bryan Boucher, Clayton

NC pork industry

You have to hand it to the activists attacking North Carolina’s pork industry — they never let a crisis go to waste. First, it was the hurricanes. Now, they are using the COVID-19 pandemic to keep attacking our industry.

The latest example: Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette’s May 10 op-ed.

He repeats a long list of vague, misleading claims about the impact of hog farming on air and water. Burdette also unfairly attacks our state’s processing plants, which are operating at significantly reduced capacity to protect workers and keep our nation’s food chain up and running.

When a crisis hits, our family farmers don’t attack others. We look for ways to help. We protect our animals, feed our neighbors, and strengthen our communities.

Chad Herring, Mount Olive

Executive director NC Farm Families