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"Little Rock Cares" continues distributing food after government reopens


KATV
KATV
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The federal government has reopened, but volunteers with "Little Rock Cares" are still helping the hundreds of federal workers who are still feeling the effects of the government shutdown.

Thanks to the community's support, some 25,000 pounds of food and supplies were donated for the once-furloughed federal workers in Central Arkansas. But even though the government has reopened, many of those workers are still struggling to make ends meet.

"A lot of people just got a paycheck for a very small amount. And after missing a couple of paychecks, people are behind. They're still in need of food," Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance Executive Director Kathy Webb said.

Little Rock Cares and the hunger relief alliance are continuing their efforts in making sure those employees and their families get back up to speed. Volunteers met at the food distribution center at the airport Friday, organizing food items to give out.

"We're good right now, [but] we're obviously monitoring the situation very closely to see what happens in Washington, because if we have another shutdown then we would have to start all over and do this again," Webb added.

Food banks, Webb says, along with the hunger relief alliance, are likening the most recent government shutdown to that of a natural disaster -- only worse. That's because, in times of need, those agencies reach out to the government for help. Many people rely on charitable food networks for assistance, Webb says.

"And this time the problem has been that it has been the government that was shut down."

Little Rock Cares plans to have another food distribution Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Clinton National Airport cargo area, located at 1000 Temple St.

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