The Department of Social Services is governed by the board members and offers a variety of assistance programs and services to the residents. The department provides nutritious meals, education, and health and wellness services to more than 1,400 senior citizens. It also enables over 27,600 low-income persons and nearly 3,300 children from poor families to access medical care. In addition, the Department of Social Services provides short-term assistance, including rent, food and utilities to more than 3,300 citizens in crisis situations. It is operated by the Catawba County, N.C., which also operates soil and water conservation, utilities and engineering, public health, library, tax, parks, and planning and development departments. The Department of Social Services is located in Hickory, N.C.