by Shannon Rogers
As the holiday season arrives on the heels of federal shutdowns, delayed SNAP benefits, and rising food insecurity, Carroll County is doing what it does best, taking care of its own. Local businesses, independent shops, restaurants, and nonprofits across the county are stepping up in creative, powerful ways to make sure families don’t face the holidays hungry or alone.
Recognizing the growing needs around them, Collision Course owners Tony and Ashley Gerald quickly decided they had to take action. They began offering at least one free hot meal a day—something they could afford to give out of pocket. But when Ashley posted the idea on Facebook, the community responded instantly. A meal-sponsorship fund currently stands at $2,000, after initially raising a larger budget, and within just two and a half weeks, Collision Course had provided more than 400 free meals to local residents. Ashley noted, “Everyone deserves a hot meal.”
The Westminster Rescue Mission, led by CEO Stephanie Halley, has seen a dramatic spike in demand. The mission already supplies food to nearly 30 local partners—from church pantries to community programs—moving roughly 1.2 million pounds of food last year, the equivalent of one million meals.
But with SNAP benefits halted during the federal shutdown and furloughed workers missing paychecks, needs are up an estimated 20–30%. “The lines are long, and the needs are great,” Halley said. “Now we’re seeing folks who have never needed a pantry before.”
To help families navigate available resources, the mission maintains the Carroll County Free Food Resource Guide, an online, frequently updated directory showing where residents can receive or donate food throughout the county.
At Rudolph Girls Books, owner Alison Rudolph saw empty shelves for an unexpected reason. With SNAP benefits paused, families seeking emergency food turned to her shop’s informal collection efforts. She soon realized the need was bigger. “I realized we really needed to convert the used book room into a pantry,” Rudolph said. Within days, the shop transformed the space to better receive, organize and distribute food and other goods.
Rudolph Girls also expanded its annual Giving Tree program. Last year, the store helped 22 families. This year, over 30 reached out for support. In just a matter of weeks, 15–16 local businesses countywide volunteered to host giving trees, each decorated with tags listing specific gift requests from local children and families. “Big box is not feeding our community,” Alison said.
At Collision Course, the Geralds are again hosting a giving tree with detailed tags listing gifts for specific children—an approach inspired by last year’s efforts with Rudolph Girls. The restaurant also continues its round-up campaign, allowing diners to round their bill to the nearest dollar to support small but mighty local organizations like Carroll County Food Services, Westminster Youth Project, and others.
This year, they’re also partnering with Find Your Purpose, Bee A Rae of Sunshine, and Celebree School of Westminster for a community toy drive culminating in a December 22nd “shopping day” for 30 preregistered families at the Autonomous Robotics Innovation Center (ARIC), where the parents can “shop” for gifts at no cost. “We’re really excited about that one,” Ashley said, “it’s really fun.”
When asked how people can help, Halley emphasized the community’s generosity: “Everybody’s asking: how can I help? And that is awesome of Carroll County.” Food donations, volunteer time, monetary support, and awareness all matter, she said. Feeding the county takes trucks, gas, storage, and strong hands. The more people participate, the more sustainable the efforts become.
“Feeding the holidays” in Carroll County is not just a phrase—it’s a movement. Businesses are urging residents to shop small, eat local, and invest in the places that invest back.
