BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A local food bank is asking for volunteers to help federal workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
Feeding South Florida, which is based in Pembroke Park, needs volunteers to sort through thousands of pounds of food that will eventually be distributed to TSA employees and members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The organization is also asking for monetary donations to assist families who are working without a paycheck.
"Feeding South Florida is treating this as a disaster," said Sari Vatske, the food bank's Vice President. "We're seeing an increase in reliance on our services. Families who have never been in need before are now coming to us looking for the basics like food."
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The organization is now helping some 2,600 TSA workers, Coast Guard members and court house employee who are furloughed.
"By coming to Feeding South Florida, they can get food and then we're also able to connect them with some of our sister non-profits in the area for other resources like housing assistance," said Vatske.
With the growing demand, these volunteers are kicking it into high gear, sorting food and household items at the organization's Boynton Beach facility.
"Especially with this government shutdown, that's horrifying that people don't have enough to eat," said Kathy Rose, a volunteer.
Every week, Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., then 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., you can drop off food and help sort donations at the following locations:
Feeding Palm Beach County
4925 Park Ridge Blvd.
Boynton Beach
(561) 331-5441
Feeding South Florida Main Warehouse
2501 SW 32nd Terrace
Pembroke Park
(954) 518-1818
Feeding South Florida is the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. It distributes 50.5 million pounds of food every year to more than 700,000 individuals.
To donate click here. If you're interested in volunteering, click here.