Gov. Wes Moore Visits Charles County Days After Canceling Public Meet-And-Greet

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore visited Charles County on Thursday, July 9, as part of his statewide “Delivering for Maryland” tour, highlighting investments in childhood hunger initiatives and Chesapeake Bay restoration just two days after a planned public meet-and-greet in Waldorf was canceled.

In a press release labeled “Updated: Thursday, July 9, 2026,” the Governor’s Office said the visit was part of the governor’s statewide “Delivering for Maryland” tour, highlighting investments in childhood hunger initiatives and Chesapeake Bay restoration.

The visit came after the Charles County Democratic Central Committee announced on Tuesday, July 7, that a free public meet-and-greet with Moore at All American Steakhouse in Waldorf had been canceled because of what organizers described as “unforeseen circumstances.” No explanation or rescheduled date was provided.

According to the Governor’s Office, Moore began the day at the Joseph Manning Fish Hatchery in Cedarville State Forest, where he toured the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ mobile mussel hatchery and learned about freshwater mussel propagation efforts supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration.

“We’ve had incredible success restoring oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay and thanks to new funding we’ll be developing a new mussel restoration center at the Joseph Manning Hatchery in Charles County,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said in a statement. “Like oysters, freshwater mussels naturally filter water, prevent erosion and improve the ecosystem.”

According to the Governor’s Office, the Moore administration recently awarded $31.5 million through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund for 25 ecological restoration projects across Maryland that will improve water quality and wildlife habitat.

The governor later traveled to Free Gospel Church in Bryans Road, where he toured a mobile food distribution site, participated in a roundtable with families receiving Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits through the Maryland SUN Bucks program and delivered remarks highlighting the administration’s efforts to combat childhood hunger.

Photos shared by the Charles County Democratic Central Committee show Moore speaking at the church along with Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II. Also in attendance were District 4 Commissioner Ralph Patterson II, District 3 Commissioner Amanda Stewart and Del. Edith J. Patterson.

The church serves as one of Charles County Public Schools’ Meals on the Move summer meal distribution sites, providing free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for children ages 2 through 18 from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 6.

“The work of ‘Delivering for Maryland’ is ensuring that every community across our state has the resources they need to thrive,” Moore said in the press release. “Today in Charles County, we see the direct results of our administration’s investments as we fight childhood hunger and poverty and protect the vital ecosystems that make up our cultural identity and bolster our seafood industries.”

The governor highlighted the state’s Maryland SUN Bucks program, which distributed $75 million in grocery benefits to feed more than 630,000 students during its first year, the largest investment in combating childhood hunger during the summer months in Maryland history. The Moore administration said it is continuing the program this summer as part of its efforts to reduce childhood hunger and eliminate the seasonal nutrition gap.

“Charles County is proud to welcome Governor Moore and stand with the Moore-Miller Administration in advancing work that protects our natural resources, strengthens our communities and delivers meaningful results for Maryland families,” Collins said in a statement. “From Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and freshwater mussel propagation to efforts that help ensure children have access to nutritious food during the summer months, these investments reflect the kind of forward-looking partnership needed to support families, preserve our waterways, strengthen our economy and build a healthier, more resilient future for all Marylanders.”

Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria V. Navarro said the school system’s Lunch on Us and Meals on the Move programs help ensure children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer while working alongside the Charles County Department of Social Services to connect families with SUN Bucks benefits.

“We know that for a child to learn and grow, they must have access to nutritional food to fuel their bodies and minds,” Navarro said in a statement. “Our Lunch on Us and Meals on the Move summer programs ensure children are nourished year-round. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Charles County Department of Social Services as they visit our summer meals sites to inform families about the SUN Bucks program to enhance wraparound services to our families.”

Following the release of photos from the July 9 visit, some residents questioned on social media why the governor did not attend the previously scheduled public meet-and-greet after appearing elsewhere in the county.

Responding to questions on Facebook on July 9, the Charles County Democratic Central Committee said Moore’s visit was “an official state event” highlighting Maryland’s SUN Bucks program, which provides grocery assistance to eligible families during the summer when school meals are unavailable. The committee said the program serves more than 600,000 children statewide, including an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 children in Charles County.

It remains unclear whether the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the July 7 public meet-and-greet were related to the governor’s official July 9 visit. BayNet has reached out to the Governor’s Office for additional information regarding the canceled public appearance, whether the July 9 tour had been planned before the cancellation and whether another public event in Charles County will be scheduled.

For additional details on Gov. Moore’s July 9 “Delivering for Maryland” tour and the administration’s announcements in Charles County, read the full updated July 9 press release here.

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