Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and nonprofits urge help for food‑insecure families, foster care needs and immigrant supports during High Point public comment
Summary
Multiple speakers during the public‑comment period highlighted rising demand at food pantries, the Fill the Gap campaign raising about $100,000 for 29 local pantries, foster‑care resource needs, an upcoming school groundbreaking and calls to protect immigrant residents; council acknowledged the comments and offered staff follow‑up where appropriate.
During the Dec. 1 public‑comment period, a mix of nonprofit leaders, residents and students asked the council to address hunger, foster‑care gaps and immigrant community needs.
Rebecca Dobbins, executive director of the Greater High Point Food Alliance, updated council on the Fill the Gap campaign launched in late October after a federal government shutdown disrupted SNAP benefits. Dobbins said the campaign had "raised a little over $100,000" and that the effort would distribute checks to 29 local food pantries and partners. She described pantries serving unprecedented demand, noting one pantry served nearly 900 families in a single week.
Carrie Thompson, founder and executive director of Family Room, introduced her foster care resource center and described rapid‑response needs such as car seats, beds and supplies for newborns and infants; she said Family Room serves children across North Carolina and operates at no charge to families.
Jesse Lopez, a student from Southwest Guilford, spoke about federal immigration enforcement impacts and urged the city to explore local measures that do not conflict with state or federal law — for example, referral to nonprofit legal services, 'know your rights' workshops and non‑enforcement policies used elsewhere. "Immigrants make up 14% of High Point's population," Lopez said, and he argued the city could take steps to link residents to resources.
Carl Vina Foster announced a groundbreaking scheduled for Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. for the new Allen Jay Elementary School, described as a complete rebuild.
Mayor Pro Tem Bridal Moore thanked speakers, directed staff to follow up with individuals when appropriate and moved the meeting into its business agenda.
