Tracy, director of Ashe County Department of Social Services, told the board on Nov. 3 that the federal government shutdown had prevented Food and Nutrition Service (SNAP/EBT) benefits from being loaded for November. Tracy said the county has 1,872 families enrolled in food and nutrition services, representing 3,545 participants, and emphasized that the existing balances on EBT cards were still available but that some recipients would not receive scheduled November benefits.

"Whatever money they already had on their card that they may not have spent, that's still there," Tracy said, noting that recipients can check balances through the EBT Edge app or by calling the number on the back of their card. She said the state Department of Health and Human Services is updating a webpage with the evolving situation and that North Carolina has limited ability to front funds because USDA reimbursement rules apply.

To help residents during the disruption, Ashe DSS announced a countywide "No 1 Should Be Hungry" food drive with collection points including the courthouse rotunda, the Chamber of Commerce, town halls in Jefferson and West Jefferson, and the hospital. Tracy also said she is establishing an Ash Food Council to coordinate local food banks, identify coverage gaps and consider options such as home‑delivered meals. DSS will coordinate with Second Harvest Food Bank and local pantries; Tracy said the county will invite leaders from food organizations to an initial meeting and encouraged commissioners and the public to participate.

Tracy also used the report to renew an appeal for foster‑parent recruitment, saying the department needs more people to begin training and background checks. She noted she had moved one foster care supervisor back to the child welfare unit and that an additional case management hire funded through NCWorks was in process; commissioners approved the personnel transition during the meeting.

DSS said it has circulated information to local media, placed robocalls to recipients and posted food‑bank resources on the department's community resource web page (ashdss.org). Tracy asked commissioners to support collection and distribution efforts and to help publicize resources for residents in need.