Annette P., a Christiana resident, used the meeting's public-comment period to urge the steering committee to ask the county lobbyist to press the governor to convene a special session or deploy state reserves to provide emergency funding to food banks after an action that she said has left 22,000 Rutherford County residents without food assistance.

“These are not just numbers. These are real families, children, seniors, and working people who are already stretched thin by the rising cost of groceries,” Annette P. said, asking the committee to request that the county lobbyist petition the governor to call a special session and deploy resources to local food banks. She also urged residents to donate to Nourish Food Bank and other local food banks.

The comment was recorded during the public-comment portion; no committee action was taken at the meeting on the request. Commissioners did not vote on formal advocacy during this session; the request was entered into the record for any follow-up the committee or staff wish to pursue.