Mondee Tilley

Staff Reporter

DOBSON — A “Census Awareness Breakfast” will be held on Feb. 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Surry County Government Center in Room 335.

The event is sponsored by the Surry County Census 2010 Complete Count Committee which is being headed up by Surry County Planning Director Kim Bates.

A light breakfast and refreshments will be provided.

“This will be an ideal opportunity to learn about and discuss the importance of a complete and accurate census count to the ability of local, state and federal government agencies to provide the best possible services to our citizens,” Bates said.

A brief presentation will be shown, and Census Bureau representatives and committee members will be on hand.

“We need to make sure we can emphasize the importance of the faith-based community in our efforts to encourage folks to be counted. Nationwide there has been a somewhat concerted effort among faith-based organizations to discourage many from responding to the census, in the interest of shielding them or protecting them from some evil. And we have met with some resistance here, in our efforts at outreach to the faith-based community. This may have the effect of denying people the services that they are fully entitled to,” Bates said.

He said he would like to see 100 percent participation in the census this year. During the last census only 62 percent of the population participated, he said.

“We are talking over $4 trillion dollars in funding available over the next ten years, awarded based in large part on census numbers. Education, health and human services, police and fire protection, emergency and other services can all benefit from this funding,” Bates said.

Everyone is invited to come to the event to learn more about the census and how they can help.

For more information, contact Kim Bates at 401-8350.

The Surry County Government center is located at 118 Hamby Road, Dobson.