The partial government shutdown continues to take a toll on federal workers unable to pay their bills and put food on the table. The Food Bank of WNY held a special distribution at the Salvation Army in Lockport Thursday.
It was for federal employees who've been furloughed or working without pay since the partial government shutdown. Those at the pantry got a box full of groceries, including chicken, potatoes and canned beans.
Leaders say others worried about their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits also stocked up.
"Anything that happens with the federal government is going to have a trickledown effect. It could be the landlord that's not collecting rent, because people can't pay the rent because they're government employees. Or the people that are providing services to government employees and no longer have that revenue coming in," said Michael Daloia, Food Bank of WNY Agency Services manager.
A similar event was held in Jamestown on Wednesday. Another is set to take place at the Eden-North Collins Food Pantry on Friday, and the Olean Food Pantry on Tuesday.
Future Events:
- Eden-North Collins Food Pantry, 2059 Franklin St., North Collins, 14111 – Friday, January 25, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Olean Food Pantry, 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, 14760 – Tuesday, January 29, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.