The Emergency Assistance Program provides services for persons of low-income who are experiencing a financial emergency and cannot be helped by any other agency or organization. The primary focus of the program is on emergency needs and interests of low-income persons.

Emergency Assistance is provided through our partnerships with many other organizations and agencies throughout the New River Valley . The partnerships vary with each area served. Some examples of the shared support are donation of space, volunteers, staff support, and donated funds and goods. Only through a concerted effort by the communities in each jurisdiction is emergency assistance possible.

Some kinds of assistance provided may be: transportation, food, clothing, blankets, bed linens, utility payments, household products, furniture, infant needs, prescriptions, rent, mortgage payments, shelter for homeless people, bus/taxi fare, gasoline, car repair, fees for services, personal hygiene products, assistance with letter writing or completing applications, household items, etc.

Information, referral, and outreach services are provided to help participants access needed support from both inside and outside the New River Community Action network. Emergency Assistance is supported by the United Way in many offices.

Outreach and Referral

Provides assistance to participants for accessing home Weatherization, water/ waste water improvements and other housing and human services.

Home Repair Programs

New River Community Action acts as an intake and referral source to help people access home repair programs that operate in the New River Valley . NRCA provides small repairs to homes using United Way funds and donations.

Seasonal Programs

Thanksgiving and Christmas Assistance
Thanksgiving and Christmas Assistance is provided to help low-income families (primarily those with children, teenagers, or elderly people without families). An application must be completed, and families will be screened (confidentially) to determine the greatest need. New River Community Action works in partnership with holiday assistance programs throughout the New River Valley .

Gardening Project
The Gardening Project provides garden seeds and seedlings to low-income participants. Applications are available in March. Floyd County offers a Community Garden .

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and EITC Outreach
VITA provides free income tax assistance to low-income, elderly or handicapped people filing forms 1040EZ or 1040A. Assistance is provided from February through April of each year by appointment. Participants should bring all the necessary papers with them. Forms are available at the VITA site. Please call for an appointment.

Contact the local New River Community Action office in your area for more information.