Thousands of federal workers are going without pay as the government shutdown nears the one-month mark.
Communities across the country are stepping up to make sure people don’t go hungry.
In the Washington, D.C., area, the Capital Area Food Bank hosted a special food drive on Tuesday for federal employees and government contractors.
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Organizers said they had prepared for about 400 people, and roughly 270 households came through — some waiting up to four hours for food boxes filled with fresh vegetables and nonperishable items.
Some members of Congress visited the event to meet with those receiving assistance.
“These are tough times for them. They seem pretty resilient — I don’t want to say upbeat, but positive, I think, given the difficult circumstances,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland.
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Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland added, “The first thing I did was assure them they’re going to get their pay.”
The Capital Area Food Bank has pledged to continue its special distribution sites for federal workers and contractors throughout the shutdown, no matter how long it lasts.
