The most popular New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, paying off debt, getting an education and saving money. However, most people who make resolutions give them within a few months. A program offered in Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lenoir and Robeson counties can help women achieve these goals with maintained support for 7 months.
The most popular New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, paying off debt, getting an education and saving money. However, most people who make resolutions give them within a few months. A program offered in Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lenoir and Robeson counties can help women achieve these goals with maintained support for 7 months.
“We would love to have women enroll in HOPE Accounts as part of their New Year’s resolutions,” said Salli Benedict, Project Director. “We can help women in Eastern North Carolina achieve goals they’ve wanted to work on for years.”
HOPE Accounts is a women’s empowerment project that connects women through health education, personal goal fulfillment, financial literacy, and peer support. Participants are a part of a group of women who are encouraged to move towards a healthier weight, increase physical activity, improve nutrition and diet with a sense of hope for the future, and save money along the way!
HOPE Accounts for Women is looking for more than 400 women in Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lenoir and Robeson counties to participate. Women who join the HOPE Accounts project will be randomly selected into two groups. One group, eHOPE, will receive email newsletters on health related topics for 7 months. The other group, HOPE Circle, will meet twice a month for 7 months in a social support circle with local women to learn more about healthy eating, physical activity, and finances.
The HOPE Circle group will also have the opportunity to open a matched savings account with the help of BB&T Bank in Sampson, Duplin, Harnett and Lenoir Counties and New Century Bank in Robeson County. Any money saved in this account will be matched dollar for dollar by the project, up to $600 for a total of $1200. These funds may be used for continuing education, improving job skills, or small business development.
The project is looking for women who:
- Want to learn more about healthy eating, physical activity, and finances
- Want the opportunity to get $1 for every dollar you save, up to $600
- Live in Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lenoir, or Robeson County
- Are over 18 years of age
- Are overweight
- Are low income
- Are not pregnant or planning to get pregnant in the next 6 months
For more information, please contact Salli Benedict, Project Director, at (919) 966-6090 or salli_benedict@unc.edu. HOPE Accounts is funded by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Award No. RC1MD004447.
HOPE Accounts is a project of the University of North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the Community Action Committee, Coharie IntraTribal Council, CommWell Health, Native American Interfaith Ministries, and many other community organizations.