Resource Center continues to fill the needs of community

RILEIGH BRĒ COLE
MCHS Student Journalist

Christmas is over, but the winter season is just beginning. Hard times don’t magically go away with the magic of Christmas for many struggling families. And we have many of those families right here in Lynchburg and our surrounding communities in Moore County. This is where the Moore County Resource Center steps in.

Director Robyn LaCook was able to give us some insight into the work that they do. “Many years ago, members of our community recognized fellow neighbors needing assistance during the holidays,” she says. “The group came together to provide gifts and food to these neighbors, with their efforts continuing each year.

“As the number in need grew and grew, the Moore County Resource Center was formally established and registered as a certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Today, the resource center consists of a five-member board, four office personnel, and countless on-demand volunteers. All board members, office personnel, and volunteers are 100% uncompensated. 93% of every dollar donated is spent on the services and goods distributed."

The Moore County Resource Center primarily focuses on food distribution, utility assistance, and emergency response. They administer the Second Harvest perishable food distribution on the morning of the second Tuesday of each month at the American Legion/pool building, where they hand out around 80 food boxes each month.

LaCook says they provide emergency food supplies, along with clothing and temporary housing, in the event of a catastrophe such as fire, flood, or storm damage to a residence.

“We host two major events each year – the Back to School Health & Wellness event, where we distribute school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, and food; and the Christmas Stocking Stuffers, where we distribute gifts, clothing, hygiene items, and food,” she adds. Both are wonderful ways to help children during the back-to-school season and the Christmas season, ensuring they each get what they need.

“Each Christmas season, the Moore County Resource Center hosts the Stocking Stuffers event. The program is available to families in need of assistance who are residents of the county or whose children are active students enrolled in Moore County Schools. The program allows the community to ‘adopt’ a child for whom they will purchase clothes, shoes, a jacket, and a toy,” LaCook says.

“Our organization will add a hygiene bag for each child and a large perishable and non-perishable food box for each family. This year, our Stocking Stuffers event assisted 72 families consisting of 176 children.” LaCook says.

“New to this year’s event, we recognized a need to distribute a food box to neighbors of the community who do not participate in the Stocking Stuffers program,” she adds. “We had an overwhelming response, allowing us to distribute perishable and non-perishable food boxes to 56 residents.” Overall, the 2024 Christmas event distributed around 9,000 pounds of food.

The “why” of the Moore County Resource Center is simply the desire of our amazing volunteers to share their “love thy neighbor” spirit throughout our wonderful county. To apply for assistance, residents can visit the office in the basement of the county building from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays, or call 931-434-6808 and leave a message for a volunteer.

Registration for the Back to School and Christmas events is sent out via the school messaging system, the Moore County Public Library, and the office.

When asked what the community can do to help, LaCook notes, “As we move into the depth of winter and the new year, our fellow neighbors will definitely need assistance with utilities and food.

“To support these efforts, the community can make monetary donations to P.O. Box 15, Lynchburg, TN 37352. We also welcome volunteers on the second Tuesday morning of each month for the perishable food distribution.”

We want to thank the Moore County Resource Center for stepping up to help those in need. They don’t do it for attention, but we need to recognize them for all that they do for our community. And they would appreciate your support in any way you can contribute.