Union members have set up a food pantry in Washington, D.C. as the federal government shutdown continues beyond 30 days. The initiative comes as federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding nears exhaustion, affecting many federal workers who are currently without pay.
The food pantry provides canned goods to anyone in need and is also collecting donations for local food banks that support laid-off federal employees. Among those affected by the shutdown are members of both the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) and the National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM (NFFE-IAM).
The ongoing shutdown has left thousands of federal workers struggling financially, prompting unions to take action to assist their members and others impacted by the lapse in government funding.
