From Colorado to North Carolina: Expanding a Lifeline for Families in Need

April 4, 2025

From Colorado to North Carolina: Expanding a Lifeline for Families in Need

A simple tool built in Colorado is now helping North Carolina families unlock life-changing benefits—in just six minutes.

At Gary Community Ventures, we believe that families deserve every opportunity to thrive—and that includes being able to access the support they qualify for without jumping through endless hoops. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to see MyFriendBen, a project we incubated here in Colorado, expand to North Carolina in partnership with Code the Dream and NC 211.

For those who aren’t familiar, MyFriendBen is a free, judgment-free online tool that helps families quickly discover financial support programs they’re eligible for—everything from food assistance and health insurance to child care subsidies and utility relief. It’s fast (just a six-minute survey), accurate (over 90% of the time), and available in 12 languages. Most importantly, it’s simple and accessible—no logins, no red tape.

We launched MyFriendBen in Colorado with one goal in mind: eliminate the confusion and frustration that too often keeps families from accessing benefits they’ve earned. Since then, the results have spoken for themselves. Families using MyFriendBen in Colorado have found an average of $1,500 per month in benefits. That’s rent. That’s groceries. That’s peace of mind.

Now, North Carolina families will have access to the same kind of support. Thanks to the local leadership of Code the Dream—a Durham-based nonprofit that empowers diverse talent to develop life-changing tech—MyFriendBen is being tailored to meet the specific needs of North Carolinians. It’s not just a tech tool; it’s a community-built solution backed by organizations that know the terrain and care deeply about the people they serve.

“It’s harder than ever for families to afford the basics, and one in three North Carolinians is close to or currently experiencing poverty. This tool offers one-stop, judgment-free help. MyFriendBen is a lifeline.”

Dan Rearick, Co-Executive Director of Code the Dream

Across both states, the goal remains the same: remove the barriers that prevent people from getting the support they need—especially in moments of crisis or transition. The traditional benefits system can be overwhelming, hard to navigate, and fragmented. MyFriendBen was built to change that, and every new rollout brings us closer to a future where no one falls through the cracks because of paperwork or process.

We’re especially grateful to see how North Carolina community partners have already embraced MyFriendBen:

I love it. As a community health worker, it gives me confidence—I can send someone to DSS [Division of Social Services] knowing that this person is qualified for the benefit.

Prince Mundeke Mushunju, Pastor and Community Health Worker, Mundeke Gospel Mission

It’s a great tool to use. I think it’s very beneficial to families that aren’t able to get to an office between 8 to 5.

Yanira Vanegas Scott, Executive Director, El Refugio

And with the integration of NC 211, users will also be able to connect directly to live support and local resources. That’s the kind of wraparound, person-centered experience we need more of.

As Elise Henson, Executive Director of MyFriendBen, says,“Historically, these systems are challenging to navigate even for the professionals who are experts in what they do. MyFriendBen empowers individuals with information to quickly and easily find the support that can help them find greater peace of mind.”

We’re inspired by what’s possible when we center families in the design of our systems. From Colorado to North Carolina, MyFriendBen is proof that when we make support easier to access, we make it easier for families to build stronger, more secure futures.

And we’re just getting started.

Visit MyFriendBen-NC

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