Overview
- Capital Area Food Bank reported serving more than 370 households at a Maryland event after planning for about 150, prompting extra deliveries to meet demand.
- Roughly 1.4 million federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay as the shutdown continues into a third week.
- The targeted distribution at No Limits Outreach Ministries required a federal ID, prioritizing furloughed employees and contractors for food boxes.
- The food bank committed to return weekly to the site and is coordinating additional regional distributions, while local donors such as Healthy Fresh Meals provide supplemental meals.
- Congress has not agreed on worker pay, with Sen. Ron Johnson proposing to pay only those still on duty and Democrats seeking pay for all, as some longtime public servants now turn to food aid.