Washington-Wilkes Informer

10/31/2025

The city is paying $56,000 for an "update" to the city website that was only built within the past three years and cost over $30,000.

The work that is stated to be done in the contract is logo design, brand creation, which can be costly but why does the city need to do this when they just did it? The current website is already modern and mobile friendly. If changes need to be made, the company that designed and maintains it now and that the city pays ongoing to do that, can make changes.

That is typically included in the yearly maintenance contract. Spending over $50,000 when we have a water infrastructure that needs an overhaul seems unnecessary.

What the city needs is a better way to communicate with citizens and that can be set up and managed for less than $200/month.

This proposal was apparently voted on by council with unanimous approval.

They should have talked to someone who knows about tech before making this decision. They should have obtained several proposals and looked at the experience and past work of everyone being considered. This is very expensive for what is to be delivered.

10/31/2025

The ruling came one day before funding for SNAP, more commonly known as food stamps, was set to lapse.

10/31/2025

Changes to disability benefit eligibility on the horizon.

Planned changes to Social Security’s disability program could leave hundreds of thousands of older blue-collar workers ineligible for aid. These changes would fall disproportionately on some of President Trump’s most loyal supporters.

10/31/2025

It would be great if some churches in Washington could do something similar.

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

Community Update: How You Can Help During the Government Shutdown

We’ve received so many messages from caring neighbors asking what foods to collect for our community during the government shutdown. First, thank you. Your compassion truly makes a difference.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Most Needed Items:
• Low-sodium canned vegetables
• No-sugar-added canned fruit
• Canned meats and seafood
• Nuts and nut butters
• Whole grain rice and pasta
• Whole grain cereal and oats
• Dried beans, peas, and lentils
• Low-sugar jam and jelly

Drop-Off Hours:
Donations can be brought to our Augusta or Aiken locations, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed from 12–1 p.m.).

Why It Matters:
Right now, more families across our 24-county service area are turning to us for help because of the ongoing government shutdown and the temporary pause in SNAP benefits beginning November 1. At the same time, recent funding changes mean we are receiving less food than we typically rely on to support families in our community, making it harder to keep our shelves full. Every item you give helps ensure we can continue saying “yes” to families who need us.

Prefer to give online?
A monetary donation helps us purchase exactly what’s needed most, when it’s needed most.
Make a gift now: https://virtualdrive.goldenharvest.org/give/415954/ #!/donation/checkout

You can print or share this flier:https://goldenharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Most-Wanted-Items-8x11-2022-final.pdf to help spread the word in your neighborhood, workplace, or church.

Thank you for helping us keep our shelves stocked and hope strong for our neighbors in need.

10/30/2025

Federal funds cut to food banks earlier this year means food pantries need donations more than ever.

ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cuts.

10/29/2025

10/29/2025

Some facts about SNAP benefits.

10/29/2025

This documentary provides a perspective on poverty from the point of view of children who have absolutely no control over their situation. Kids who describe how they distract themselves from their hunger and how aware they are of the cost of everything.

Filmed across 14 years, this documentary follows three Americans as they grow from kids to teenagers to young adults, trying to pursue their dreams while dea...

10/28/2025

▶️Candidates five questions‼️

All candidates running for city council in Washington, take a short video of yourself answering these five questions and post the video to your page and tag the Washington Wilkes Informer. We will make sure to share so more citizens can see it and learn more about you.

QUESTIONS:

If there is one challenge that is the greatest Washington is facing, what is it?

Do you think utility bills need to be lower and if so, what solution do you propose?

How will you handle opposing views from other members of council?

Do you believe the city and council are as transparent as they can be?

What do you think is a character trait you possess that will benefit the citizens of Washington?