About 17 percent of Rusk County residents, including more than 23 percent of children, were reported as at risk of hunger in 2023 according to Feeding America. The organization reported that 86 percent of counties with the highest food insecurity are rural, based on 2023 data. “Henderson doesn’t have much for people. Low income or, look, I’m on social security, and I’ve fallen into hard times, and they’ve been there for me,” Thompson said. “They help a lot of people. They helped me with my electric bills and stuff like that. They’re good people.”