Food insecurity remains a significant public health challenge in Orange County, North Carolina, impacting an estimated 13% of its residents —a rate that unfortunately increased between 2019 and 2023. A major obstacle is the substantial eligibility gap, as nearly half (49%) of food-insecure individuals earn too much to qualify for federal assistance like SNAP, despite struggling with the county’s high average meal cost of $4.44. This challenge is acute among vulnerable groups, including children (9.8% food-insecure) and seniors. Furthermore, recent federal legislation, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (H.R. 1), signed in July 2025, is set to tighten eligibility for many North Carolinians, expand work requirements up to age 64, and restrict future benefit increases. To combat this crisis, the community relies heavily on a layered system of support. Federally funded initiatives like the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Program, which assists 39% of local students, and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), address hunger among children. Seniors benefit from programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). However, grassroots organizations are the essential frontline, with networks like PORCH and local food pantries providing emergency relief, especially during non-school hours and following benefit depletion. The ability of the County to leverage these partners, demonstrated during a temporary SNAP payment lapse in late 2025, underscores their vital role in ensuring basic nutrition and access to food resources across Orange County.
Food Insecurity in Orange County
While Orange County is recognized as one of North Carolina's healthiest, a striking disparity exists: an estimated 13% of its residents experience food insecurity . The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Food Assessment Toolkit published in 2022 provides a robust definition of food security: "Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways." Beyond basic nutrition, this definition champions personal agency, asserting that cultural acceptability and individual food preferences are indispensable to true food security. These elements ensure the right to choose what one eats, rather than being compelled to consume only foods that meet a narrow definition of hunger relief. Although Orange County's food insecurity rate of 13% remains below North Carolina's statewide rate of 15.0%, it unfortunately increased by 1.4% from 2019 to 2023.
The Orange County Food Security Program, administered in partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension, maintains a robust food resource list, connecting those in need with food pantries, distributions, and other support resources across Orange County. That list can be viewed at go.ncsu.edu/feedorangecounty.
Orange County is full of community members who actively participate in hunger relief and educational efforts. These volunteers participated in a cooking day with Heavenly Groceries in 2024. Photo courtesy of Heavenly Groceries.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
According to the Orange County Department of Social Services, 4,683 households received Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) in September 2025. That equates to 8,706 participants receiving support from the SNAP program, representing about 5.5% of the total Orange County population. For Fiscal Year 2026, Orange County recipients will receive approximately $31 million in benefits or about $2.6 million per month.
Major Changes to SNAP/FNS Under H.R. 1: "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act"
The new SNAP changes resulting from H.R. 1 will profoundly affect a significant portion of North Carolina's population. Currently, 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP benefits, and the cuts will disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable. This group includes 600,000 children under 18 and over 159,000 older adults aged 65 or older. Overall, more than two-thirds (66%) of SNAP recipients in the state have children, and over a third (34%) include a senior or an adult with a disability. The new work requirements, which apply to a broader age range (up to age 64) and to parents of children over age 14, will create new obstacles for many, despite the fact that historically, an average of 80% of SNAP households in North Carolina included someone who was working between 2019 and 2023. These changes, coupled with a cap on future benefit increases due to the Thrifty Food Plan modifications, mean that hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, including 9,163 people in Orange County, will face reduced food purchasing power and greater barriers to accessing essential assistance.
Major Financial Shifts to State and Counties
H.R. 1 transfers significant financial responsibility from the federal government to state and local governments. This will create major new costs for North Carolina.
- New State Share of Benefit Costs (Based on Error Rate)
For the first time in SNAP history, states will be required to pay a share of the actual food benefit costs distributed to families, based on their SNAP payment error rate.
- NC's Situation: North Carolina's error rate is 10.21% (based on a 3-year prior average), which places the state in the highest penalty bracket.
- Cost-Share Details: The new law mandates that states with an error rate of ≥10% must pay 15% of the total benefit costs.
- Estimated Annual Cost to NC: This change is expected to cost North Carolina an estimated $420 million per year.
- Increased State/County Share of Administrative Costs
The federal government is drastically reducing its share of the costs required to administer the SNAP program (staff, systems, processing).
- Current Share: 50% Federal / 50% State/County
- New Share: 25% Federal / 75% State/County (effective Fiscal Year 2027)
- Estimated Cost Increase:
- North Carolina (State): Likely to increase by an estimated $16 million.
The Orange County administrative cost burden is estimated to increase by approximately $900,000, unless legislative changes adjust the funding formula.
Eligibility and Benefit Reductions
H.R. 1 introduces sweeping cuts to SNAP benefits and eligibility, primarily by expanding work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). The age limit for these requirements is raised from 54 to 64, subjecting a much larger group to the mandate of working 20 hours per week (80 hours per month) to receive benefits for more than three months in a three-year period. Crucially, the exemption for parents is narrowed, as parents of children over age 14 are now subject to the work requirement. Moreover, the law eliminates most exemptions previously available to vulnerable groups, including veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care, forcing them to meet the work mandate or lose their benefits. On the benefit side, the law severely restricts the future value of assistance by prohibiting the USDA from increasing the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) based on reevaluations of food content and consumption; instead, annual adjustments are capped to the typically lower Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), ensuring that the real value of SNAP benefits will decline over time. Finally, the Act eliminates eligibility for specific groups of lawfully present non-citizens, such as those granted conditional entry under asylum or refugee laws, or those present for urgent humanitarian reasons like surviving domestic violence or human trafficking. The Orange County Department on Aging has an employment specialist on staff to assist older adults aged 55 – 64 who are being impacted by the new work requirement
What Does NOT Change?
The law maintains key aspects of the program:
- Citizenship/Legal Status Eligibility: Eligibility is maintained for U.S. citizens/nationals, lawful permanent residents (with exceptions), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and individuals lawfully residing under the Compacts of Free Association.
- Individual Benefit Amounts: States remain prohibited from choosing not to fund benefits at the current, federally-set levels or funding only a portion of the benefits. Annual minimum benefit amounts are still set on the federal fiscal year.
More In My Basket is a SNAP Outreach program administered by NC State Extension.
More In My Basket
The More In My Basket Program is a vital SNAP outreach initiative offered through a partnership between the NC Department of Health & Human Services and NC State Extension.
The program directly addresses common myths and misperceptions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides low-income residents with clear, accurate information on eligibility, the application process, nutrition, and financial preparedness.
How it helps:
- Maximizes Access: By correcting misinformation and proactively eliminating barriers, the program ensures that potentially eligible residents can make informed decisions and apply for SNAP.
- Increases Awareness: In FY25, Orange County efforts included direct outreach, a digital campaign reaching over 45,000 people, and distributing hundreds of informational materials.
- Facilitates Application: The outreach directly resulted in Orange County residents contacting the team for detailed eligibility information and application assistance, increasing access to crucial food security benefits.
For more information, contact Orange County Cooperative Extension at 919-245-2050.
Supporting Orange County Seniors
In Orange County, 1 in 10 seniors ages 60 and above live below the poverty level. Dedicated programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Department on Aging congregate lunch program, and senior meal delivery services provided by Meals on Wheels programs at MOWOCNC and Orange Congregations in Mission are providing essential nutritional support and bridging this critical gap.
In 2024, the CSFP provided monthly food boxes to 338 Orange County residents, offering crucial nutritional support to low-income seniors aged 60 and older.
CSFP works to improve health by supplementing the diets of eligible seniors with nutritious USDA Foods. Locally, the program is administered by the Orange County Department on Aging through the NCDA&CS Food Distribution Division.
To be eligible, you must be an Orange County resident, aged 60 or older, and meet the following income guidelines:
- 1 member: $1,995 per month or less
- 2 members: $2,705 per month or less
- Higher income limits apply for larger households.
Applications are available at the Seymour and Passmore Senior Centers. You can also contact Shenae McPherson, VC55+ Administrator, at shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov.
Monthly distributions are coordinated in Orange County by the Department on Aging at five locations: the Seymour Center (Chapel Hill), the Passmore Center (Hillsborough), Efland Cheeks Community Center, Cedar Grove Community Center, and Carolina Spring Apartments (Carrboro). Food packages include a variety of items such as milk, cheese, canned meats, vegetables, fruits, cereals, rice, and pasta. A complete list of available foods is published on the USDA website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/foods-available.
The Orange County Department on Aging’s congregate lunch program is available to county residents age 60 and older at Seymour Center and Passmore Center on weekdays. While meals are provided free of charge, voluntary contributions are encouraged to help support the program’s continued growth. Registration is required and typically takes 3–5 business days to process; forms are available at both senior centers. Once registered, participants can pick up daily meal tickets on a first-come, first-served basis between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., with lunch served promptly at 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit orangecountync.gov/Aging or call the Department on Aging.
CASE STUDY: A Knock at the Door: The Lifeline of Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels Orange County, NC is more than just a meal delivery service; it’s a lifeline. For older adults who are homebound, the weekday knock on the door is about more than just lunch—it’s a moment of connection, a friendly face, and a vital check-in. This personal visit from a volunteer is often the only social interaction they have all day, combating the devastating effects of isolation and loneliness.
The mission is both simple and profound: to nourish and enrich the lives of older adults in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and communities across rural northern and southern Orange County. While the focus is on clients over 60, they also serve a small percentage of caregivers or individuals with physical or mental impairments who cannot access other services.
It all starts with a warm meal or a healthy frozen option based on client need or request, but the support quickly expands into something much more. Meals on Wheels helps older adults age in place with dignity, serving between 430 and 450 people annually and delivering around 69,000 meals.
This "More-Than-A-Meal" approach includes a variety of additional services offered in partnership with other nonprofits and County departments. These services provide comprehensive support, ranging from pet food and durable medical equipment to in-home vaccinations. It's about recognizing that well-being extends far beyond the plate.
In recent times, the organization has noticed a growing demand for its services, driven by an increase in calls from people concerned about cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. This highlights the critical role Meals on Wheels plays in the community, providing essential support for those who need it most. For many, Meals on Wheels is the difference between struggling alone and living with support—empowering them with the food, friendship, and resources to live independently and securely.
Learn more at https://www.mowocnc.org/.participant of Meal on Wheels Orange County NC receives a nutritious lunch.
Additional Food Security Burdens
Food insecurity poses a major challenge in Orange County, North Carolina, driven by a significant eligibility gap for nutrition assistance and a high cost of living. According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap data , an estimated 49% of food-insecure individuals in Orange County are above the income threshold for programs like SNAP/EBT, meaning nearly half are struggling but ineligible for aid. This local figure is notably high, exceeding the state's ineligible proportion of 38% by 11 percentage points. Compounding this financial strain, the average meal cost in Orange County is $4.44, which is $0.94 higher than the state average of $3.50.
The 2023 Orange County Community Health Assessment (CHA) underscores the severity of this issue, linking food insecurity to a wide variety of chronic diseases and identifying food assistance as a priority resource need for 8% of survey participants, alongside healthcare, housing, medicine, and utilities.
Child Food Insecurity
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal, 9.8% of children in Orange County currently live with food insecurity. The issue transcends traditional poverty metrics, as evidenced by the fact that in 2023, 36% of food-insecure children lived in households above 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) .
Free and Reduced Meal Programs
The Free and Reduced Price School Meals Program is a federal assistance initiative that provides K-12 students with free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch during the school year. Eligibility is based on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines published by the USDA. For the 2025-2026 school year, students are eligible for free meals if their household income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and for reduced-price meals if the household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level . In Orange County, both school districts have experienced a decade-long trend of increasing participation. For the 2025-2026 school year, 39% of all students, representing 7,089 children across both school systems, are participating in the program.
The need varies between the two districts, with 29% of students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools receiving assistance, compared to 53% of students in Orange County Schools (OCS). The higher OCS percentage is due, in part, to the use of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in four of its schools. The CEP is a federal option that allows schools in high-poverty areas to serve all enrolled students free meals, without individual applications, by basing reimbursement on the percentage of students who are directly certified through programs like SNAP. Consequently, participation rates at individual schools in Orange County range from 13% to a maximum of 100% in schools operating under the CEP.
Summer Meals Program
For many children from low-income families, school meals are a primary source of daily nutrition. When this crucial support ends during the summer, families struggle with food insecurity. To bridge this gap, Orange County deployed the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) across 14 sites in 2025, with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) sponsoring five sites and Orange County Schools (OCS) sponsoring nine, including the Cedar Grove and Efland-Cheeks Community Centers. This local effort directly addresses a wider state challenge: while most food-insecure children receive meals during the school year, far fewer access the SFSP during the summer. By establishing feeding sites across both districts and partnering with community centers and youth programs, local school nutrition directors and contractors are taking significant steps to ensure students can access vital food resources throughout the summer months.
CASE STUDY: Building Community Through Inclusive Food Access
PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro is on a mission to fight hunger by “mobilizing neighbors, building community, and providing fresh, healthy food”. Through four key programs, they are making a tangible impact on the community.
Their flagship program, Food for Families, is a powerful example of their work. Each month, the PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro facility in Carrboro transforms into a vibrant, client-choice food pantry. This isn't your typical food drive. It's a place where more than 800 local families—representing over 3,000 individuals, including more than 1,600 children—can “shop” for the groceries they need. Imagine a market where you can fill your cart with fresh produce, meat and plant-based proteins, dairy, eggs, and other essential groceries and hygiene products. This approach not only provides sustenance but also restores dignity and choice.
Beyond this, PORCH also provides snacks to all 21 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools through Food for Schools twice a year, and stocks 18 smaller, community-embedded pantries with their Food for Pantries program each month.
The team at PORCH believes that to truly solve food insecurity, you have to listen to the people you serve. They've built their programs on this principle, actively working to remove the barriers that prevent access to healthy food. They've even hired program participants to join their staff, ensuring that the lived experiences of community members are at the core of their decision-making. Regular feedback sessions, held in multiple languages, give families a direct voice in shaping the programs they rely on. By listening first, PORCH doesn't just address a lack of food; they tackle the systemic inequities that cause it.
The need for their services remains constant, with new families enrolling in the Food for Families program every month. Most of these referrals come from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, especially in the fall when social workers complete needs assessments for students.
Learn more at https://chapelhill.porchcommunities.org/.
The Essential Role of Grassroots Hunger Relief
While government programs establish a vital, foundational layer of nutritional support, grassroots hunger relief organizations are the indispensable frontline for addressing the urgent, daily gaps in community food security. Food pantries serve as the initial point of access for emergency relief. A 2025 County-wide assessment conducted by Orange County Cooperative Extension identified twelve core food pantries, which are dynamically supplemented by a network of smaller, yet vital, distribution points operating out of churches, schools, and other community-based organizations.
These community-based initiatives ensure a steady and targeted flow of provisions. Organizations like PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro and TABLE focus on the most vulnerable periods, consistently providing relief to children and families during school breaks, weekends, and at the critical end-of-the-month phase when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are often depleted.
Furthermore, innovative models like Farmer Foodshare offer a dual-impact solution: they secure an abundance of fresh, nutritious food via community food security organization for those in need while simultaneously helping to sustain farms across North Carolina.
The necessity of this grassroots network was powerfully demonstrated in November 2025. When a temporary lapse occurred in the issuance of SNAP/Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) payments, Orange County quickly contracted with its community partners to respond.
Specifically, the County engaged PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro and PORCH Hillsborough to conduct emergency food distributions significantly above and beyond their regular schedules, ensuring rapid food accessibility. The County also provided additional funding to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and Orange Congregations in Mission to rapidly increase their pantry capacities during the crisis.
These four organizations were part of the County’s annual Outside Agency funding process in 2025, which supports several food security organizations across Orange County and underscores the County's commitment to leveraging the agility and deep community reach of its local partners.
For information on Orange County’s Outside Agency funding process, visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/735/Outside-Agencies.
CASE STUDY: Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC)
Nourishing a Community: IFC’s Fight Against Poverty and Food Insecurity
IFC’s mission is to confront the causes and respond to the effects of poverty in the community. IFC envisions a community that meets everyone's basic needs, including dignified and affordable housing, an abundance of healthy food, and meaningful social connection. Employing values of Mutual Respect, Social Justice, Community Power, Self-Determination, and Integrity, IFC carries out its mission through direct services as well as programs to address the root causes of poverty.
IFC provides food access to households through two programs:
In Orange County, where 52% of households are "cost-burdened" by housing expenses, IFC's food programs provide critical support to those most impacted by poverty and food insecurity. While the county is among the state's wealthiest, the people IFC serves represent the 13% poverty rate and 12% food insecurity rate. All IFC members live below the federal poverty line, and people of color are disproportionately affected. Although people of color make up just 20% of the county's population, they account for over 70% of IFC's members. This includes 65% who are Black and 10% who identify as Latinx.
The number of meals served at Community Kitchen has increased 72% since 2022, rising steadily each year. Community Market shopping visits have increased 24% since 2020. This fiscal year IFC expects a similar level of need, if not more.
Learn more at https://www.ifcweb.org/.
CASE STUDY: PORCH Hillsborough
The mission of PORCH Hillsborough is to fight hunger in northern Orange County by mobilizing neighbors, building community, and providing fresh, healthy food. They achieve their mission through simple, sustainable programs including food drives to support local pantries, produce deliveries to at-risk families, mobile food distributions within underserved communities, and the purchase of healthy snacks for the Orange County School District. The mobile food distributions are where they see the faces of the over 650 households they serve monthly—families with children, seniors, and individuals who experience the overall financial strain of rising food costs.
Each month, neighborhood coordinators collect non-perishable items from the porches of dedicated community donors and deliver those donations to the Orange County Schools Central Pantry at Orange Middle School as well as the Orange Congregations in Mission pantry, ensuring local shelves are stocked and ready to help.
PORCH Hillsborough understands that the fight against hunger requires more than just a box of food. They recognize the barriers many families face, from a lack of transportation to living in a "food desert" where nutritious food is scarce. Their mobile food distributions (in partnership with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and Farmer Foodshare) held at schools, churches, and community centers, are a testament to their commitment to meeting people where they are. Through their actions, PORCH Hillsborough eases the financial burden on households facing economic insecurity. The story of hunger is deeply personal, and so is the solution. That’s why they also offer grocery store gift cards at many of their distributions. This simple act gives families the dignity and flexibility to choose what they need most for their own kitchens—a powerful step in easing the burden of economic insecurity.
As the cost of living continues to rise and food security resources shrink, the need for PORCH Hillsborough's services is more critical than ever. The organization is a powerful example of how a community can come together to address a fundamental human need, one porch, one family, and one story at a time.
Learn more at https://porchcommunities.org/hillsborough.
CASE STUDY: Orange Congregations In Mission
A Neighborly Hand: Feeding Hope in Orange County
At Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM), the day begins early. Staff and volunteers from congregations across Orange County arrive to pack grocery orders and prepare caddies for hot meal delivery, setting the daily rhythm for an organization dedicated to meeting the urgent needs of northern Orange County, including the entire geographic area of the Orange County Schools district.
The people at the heart of OCIM’s mission are all around. You see them at the food pantry: a mother with two children, attaining a week’s worth of groceries. You see them in the community: a senior citizen who relies on a Meals on Wheels volunteer for a hot meal, a quick wellness check, and a friendly face.
Inspired by faith, OCIM helps neighbors navigate urgent needs like hunger. They understand that life's challenges—whether it's an unexpected car repair or a sudden illness—can quickly derail a household budget. That's why the organization offers a steady source of support, providing groceries with no income limitations. OCIM is also a conduit for the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and distributes these commodities to eligible households as needed and available. In 2025, the food pantry served a monthly average of 727 individuals, including 214 children ages 5-17, 79 infants under the age of 5, and 29 seniors ages 65 and older.
For home-bound individuals who can no longer cook healthy meals for themselves, OCIM’s Meals on Wheels program is a critical lifeline. Its four routes serve about 25 people on weekdays, delivering not just a hot lunch, but often the only social interaction they'll have all day. For most, this service is completely free.
OCIM is committed to learning each person's story and their specific needs. They listen for dietary restrictions and supplement canned goods with fresh produce and dry goods for those who do not use canned food. And they even provide durable bags to those who walk the long distance to the closest county bus stop.
For more information, visit https://www.ocimnc.org/.
CASE STUDY: Heavenly Groceries
The Power of Radical Hospitality
Heavenly Groceries is a living testament to community and connection. Born in 2002 at the hands of St. Joseph Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Reverend Troy Harrison and his wife Bernice Harrison, Heavenly Groceries began as an idea for an after-church bread distribution. Since its 2009 transformation into a collaborative food security partnership between the Marian Cheek Jackson Center and St. Joseph CME Church in Chapel Hill's historic Northside neighborhood, this initiative has grown far beyond a simple food distribution service. It's a place where relationships flourish as bountifully as the fresh produce on offer.
The heart of Heavenly Groceries is the "Angels," a group of Northside elders and church members who see this work as a calling. They bring not just food, but a wealth of wisdom, laughter, and mentorship to the tables each week. The pantry has also become a space for "student growth and transformation," as Ms. Gladys Pendergraph-Brandon, a longtime church member, explains. College volunteers step beyond their campus bubble to connect with a vibrant community, learning from the Angels what it truly means to serve.
While it started by addressing food insecurity in the surrounding historically Black neighborhoods of Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin Top in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the pantry's impact now extends county-wide. Over 63% of its guests come from outside the Northside area, making it a lifeline for the broader Orange County community. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year alone, Heavenly Groceries served over 9,840 people from diverse backgrounds—Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, and Indigenous—many of whom are elders over 65. The pantry's open-door policy ensures that no one is turned away, embodying a spirit of radical hospitality.
This powerful effort is made possible by a model of food recovery. Instead of traditional food drives, volunteers make weekly pickups from local grocery stores, farms, and partners, rescuing produce, bread, and meat that would otherwise be discarded. This not only provides high-quality food to those in need but also combats the staggering problem of food waste.
In a world where hunger and food waste coexist, Heavenly Groceries bridges the gap with compassion and efficiency. It’s a testament to the idea that a simple act of sharing a meal can create a ripple effect of community, mentorship, and love. As the number of people served continues to grow—it saw a 32.7% increase from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025—the story of Heavenly Groceries proves that a simple pantry can be a powerful engine for change, one person and one shared meal at a time. Heavenly Groceries opens its doors to the public each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.
For more information, visit https://jacksoncenter.info/.
Works Cited
1 Feeding America. (2019). Overall food insecurity in Orange County, North Carolina: Map the meal gap 2019. https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2019/overall/north-carolina/county/orange.
2 Cohen, B., Andrews, M., & Kantor, L. S. (2002). Community food security assessment toolkit (Electronic Report No. EFAN-02-013). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=43179.
3 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1, 119th Cong. (2025). https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1.
4 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, July 9). The impact of federal Medicaid & SNAP changes in North Carolina [Presentation]. North Carolina General Assembly Briefing, Raleigh, NC, United States.
5 U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Poverty status in the past 12 months: 2024 ACS 1-year estimates subject tables (Table S1701). https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2024.S1701?q=Orange+County,+North+Carolina&t=Income+and+Poverty
Food Waste Diversion
6 Feeding America. (2025). Map the Meal Gap: 2019-2023 Local Impact of Hunger Data [Data set]. https://map.feedingamerica.org/.
7 Orange County Health Department. (2024). Orange County 2023 community health assessment. https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27392/Orange-County-2023-CHA.
8 Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines, 90 Fed. Reg. 11938 (Mar. 13, 2025). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-03-13/pdf/2025-03821.pdf.