Aired on June 22, 2025

• Hunger, Poverty, Social Safety Net

Chatham County’s designation as one of the wealthiest in the state of North Carolina belies the fact that a significant number of the county’s residents live with food insecurity on a daily basis — and many of those are children. Growth in Chatham and federal funding cuts that help food pantries like CORA (Chatham Outreach Alliance) are creating the perfect storm that is impacting CORA’s ability to feed residents at the same time that jobs for Chatham’s families are growing more unpredictable, and overall economic uncertainties have a lot of folks standing at a tipping point of need. Listen in to better understand the challenges of CORA, the fundamental needs their work addresses, and the exciting news that’s ahead.

Melissa Driver Beard (left), the Executive Director of CORA, has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, including 20 years in executive leadership. She has directed local, state, national, and international programs that advocate for basic human needs and rights. Under Melissa’s leadership, CORA has achieved over a 200% increase in income and an 88% rise in direct client services, demonstrating her ability to drive transformative growth. With a background in global advocacy, program development, and organizational capacity building, Melissa has championed solutions to food insecurity since 2009, fostering collaboration and sustainability.

Rebecca Hankins (right), the Development and Communications Director of CORA, brings more than 20 years of experience as a skilled fundraiser, communication strategist, and project manager. During her tenure at CORA, she spearheaded initiatives that increased fundraising revenue by 250% and expanded donor support by 50%. Rebecca is known for her creative approach to donor engagement, digital and traditional media strategies, and rebranding efforts that elevate CORA’s visibility. Her expertise lies in leveraging partnerships and technology to ensure program sustainability and community impact.

“On The Porch” is hosted by Randolph ”Randy” Voller. He is also the publisher of Chatham County Line. Randy welcomes guests to the show who are from the communities of art, academia, business, and politics for friendly and informative conversations. “On The Porch” airs every Sunday at 11:06 AM, and is repeated at 5:06 PM and 8:06 PM on WCHL-FM 97.9. The show also streams on ChapelBoro.com
Current and previous shows of “On The Porch” are posted as on-demand, ad-free podcasts at ChapelBoro.com, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
To be a guest on the show or send us a comment, email: ontheporch@wchl.com