North Carolina

‘Diaper Bank’ helps support families in North Carolina

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2024

‘Diaper Bank’ helps support families in North Carolina

Any parent knows how expensive and necessary it is to buy diapers for their children, but there’s a larger conversation to be had about the very real impact of parents not being able to afford diapers.

Now, there’s help for some families thanks to the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.

Venessa Diaz is a young mom with three kids, but she’s smiling more easily these days knowing what her family has overcome.

When her son Raul was two years old, he was hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. Beyond the emotional and financial stress, Venessa worried how she was going to get enough diapers to cover all of her children.

“It was a lot, and without the diaper bank, I don’t think we would have made it through that time,” Diaz said. “I feel like it really just took a lot of pressure off at a time where we were most vulnerable.”

There’s no government assistance for diapers, and they’re not covered by WIC or food stamps — the cost adds up.

“Families are literally making choices between buying food or buying diapers and every single time, they will choose to feed their children and try to make those diapers lasts as long as they can,” said Michelle Schaefer-Old, the founder of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. “So we’re seeing babies left in one diaper a day, families rinsing out and reusing diapers.”

Schaefer-Old started the bank in the Durham area in 2013. In 2022, they opened a warehouse in Charlotte.

“People are not aware that the need is there. Because it’s embarrassing to talk about,” she said.

About 76% of the families served by the diaper bank work one to three jobs, and they still can’t afford basic hygiene items like diapers.

Diaz told Channel 9′s Elsa Gillis she wouldn’t have been able to work if she didn’t have a diaper supply to drop off with her child.

“Because if you don’t have diapers there, [day care] won’t take your kid,” she said.

All of these years later, the commitment remains to spreading the word that help is available.

“It comes down to dignity, and dignity should not be a privilege,” Schaefer-Old said.

You can get more information about the Diaper Bank of North Carolina at this link.

(VIDEO: Iredell County organization works with local businesses to provide diapers for struggling families)

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North Carolina

Severe thunderstorm warning expires in central NC areas

Published

3 hours ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

Severe thunderstorm warning expires in central NC areas

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for various areas of central North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

The final warning was allowed to expire at 4:45 p.m. for Northwestern Harnett County, Northeastern Lee County, Southwestern Wake County, and Southeastern Chatham County, according to the National Weather Service office in Raleigh.

Forecasters said the warning was triggered by a severe thunderstorm east of Sanford, moving east at 10 mph.

The warning said the main threats from the storm are 60 mph wind gusts and nickel-sized hail.

Scroll below for the latest central North Carolina weather warnings and advisories:

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North Carolina

Police: Man shot dead, juvenile injured in Fayetteville neighborhood

Published

13 hours ago

July 5, 2026

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Police: Man shot dead, juvenile injured in Fayetteville neighborhood

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A man was found dead and a juvenile was injured after a shooting early Sunday morning in Fayetteville, police said.

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, officers responded around 4:03 a.m. to multiple ShotSpotter alerts in the area of Newark Avenue.

While investigating the reports and searching for evidence, officers found numerous shell casings and discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound in the 700 block of State Avenue.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Police said a juvenile male later arrived at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries connected to the incident. He is listed in stable condition.

The Fayetteville Police Department’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.

Police said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective E. Alrafai at 910-723-0327 or submit an anonymous tip through Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers.

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for July 4, 2026

Published

23 hours ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Saturday, July 4, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 4 drawing

17-38-46-50-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 4 drawing

Day: 0-2-0, Fireball: 8

Evening: 3-0-5, Fireball: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 4 drawing

Day: 1-1-9-3, Fireball: 9

Evening: 7-0-2-1, Fireball: 5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from July 4 drawing

11-22-24-25-29

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from July 4 drawing

13-20-28-32-43

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 4 drawing

17-20-37-40-43, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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