Resource Center calls for food distribution volunteers

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The Moore County Resource Center is calling on residents to lend a hand during one of its largest-ever food distribution events, set for Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Moorehead Pavilion in Wiseman Park.

The event will combine the center’s Second Harvest perishable food distribution with its first TEFAP USDA commodities distribution, effectively doubling the usual food volume. Volunteers are “desperately needed,” organizers said, to help ensure the event runs smoothly.

“We usually start at 7 a.m. and should be done by 11 a.m., provided all goes well,” the Resource Center staff said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. “Without volunteer help, this will be impossible to do.”

The need for community support arises as economic uncertainty increases across Tennessee, particularly among households relying on food assistance programs.

SNAP benefits threatened by federal shutdown

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) warned this week that November SNAP benefits may be unavailable if the federal government shutdown continues. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service notified state agencies that federal funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – known as SNAP or food stamps – may not be distributed beyond October.

More than 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, including nearly 700,000 Tennesseans. In Moore County, rising food insecurity has become a concern as local agencies brace for potential federal delays.

While October benefits were distributed as usual, the TDHS said it has no information about benefits for November. The department emphasized that recipients must still complete renewal paperwork and participate in quality reviews even during the shutdown.

For many Moore County families, food assistance programs – and local charities – serve as lifelines. Despite having one of the region’s strongest economies, more than one in 10 residents live below the federal poverty line.

According to 2025 estimates, approximately 11.3% of residents – roughly 770 people – live in poverty. When accounting for households earning up to 150% of the federal threshold, nearly 23% of the county’s population faces financial strain.

The county’s median household income stands at $66,687, with a per capita income of $45,417. Yet, even those earning slightly above the assistance limits often struggle, as housing, food, and transportation costs continue to rise.

How to help or receive food

Residents interested in volunteering at the Nov. 11 event should arrive at Wiseman Park by 7 a.m. The Resource Center expects to finish by late morning.

Anyone wishing to receive a USDA commodities box must register in advance by contacting the Moore County Resource Center at (931) 759-7827 before Nov. 11.

The Resource Center’s office is located on the lower level of the County Building, 241 Main St. in Lynchburg, and is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Organizers ask the community to share the message widely – both to recruit volunteers and to ensure that every family in need can access food assistance.