In an effort to reach people who do not access information via computers or the internet, the Town of Carrboro is piloting a Neighborhood Message Center system.
The first message center was put up on Christmas Eve at the Rocky Brook Mobile Home Park, a community of about 40 homes where Greensboro Street dips to its lowest point near Morgan Creek.
The outdoor kiosks are intended to display flyers and notices conveying information about free testing sites and schedules for COVID-19, food distribution events, housing assistance, and opportunities to improve quality of life for families. In the future, vaccination distribution information will be posted. Residents may also use the centers to share information with each other.
“During these unprecedented times of COVID-19, it is vital that we are able to provide critical news to the community,” said Communications Manager Catherine Lazorko. “We recognize that many are not plugged into social media or email. A public message center may serve as a simple but direct avenue to reach people where they live.”
The Town is piloting the message boards, display centers or info-kiosks at apartment complexes that have responded to a Town query. Town staff envision a future network that will begin with a few message centers initially before expanding into more communities, neighborhoods and commercial centers.
For more information about the program, please contact Carrboro Communications Manager Catherine Lazorko at clazorko@townofcarrboro.org