“We have some people who are hungry for food, and some who are hungry for company.”

— Betsy Buchanan, Trinity Methodist Church, on God’s Supper Table ministry

“Volunteerism is the rent we pay for life.”

— Elizabeth Safrit, Miss United States, on delivering Meals on Wheels

“My passion is to be able to create a community to retain young people. … The energy is here. We have to seize it.”

— Ryan Dayvault, Kannapolis City Council, on city’s purchase of downtown land from David Murdock

“I was tired of not knowing the language. I decided I’d had enough. I want to go to school and learn.”

— Lucy Vargas, waitress, who learned English with the help of Rowan Literacy Council

“There’s another distinct possibility and that is that we want to micromanage from the commissioners’ chairs. I don’t have much patience for that.”

— Greg Edds, chairman, Rowan County commissioners, on contracts with and rules for county fire departments