HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — With the government shutdown heading into next week, organizations across the Tennessee Valley are continuing to step up and help furloughed workers.
Right now, hundreds of food boxes are being prepared and put on a truck in Nashville to be distributed in Huntsville on Saturday morning.
The organization OneGenAway is hosting another food distribution event for furloughed workers.
“You know, you’re looking at three to 4,000 pounds of food tomorrow going out the door,” Founder and CEO Chris Whitney said.
Whitney said there will be no shortage of food available on Saturday morning. Each food box will be full of pantry essentials.
Whitney says OneGenAway operates with no qualifying questions asked. All people need to do is show up.
“All we want to do is smile, serve you, and want to know if there’s anything else we can do to help you get from point A to point B, because point B is getting closer. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but we’re going to get out of this thing,” Whitney said.
OneGenAway has seen a huge increase in need throughout the government shutdown, especially in North Alabama. He says a recent food distribution at Toyota Field was packed.
“Over 100 people came that day, just alone, so we’re overwhelmed, it’s kind of larger than what we’re seeing in Franklin right now,” Whitney said.
Saturday’s distribution event will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Calhoun Community College’s Huntsville campus at 102 Wynn Drive.
Whitney says he’s anticipating a large turnout.
“This morning, there were more people than we’ve ever seen walk in, even from farther away. So I know the same thing is going to be coming from Huntsville tomorrow,” Whitney said.
Whitney says OneGenAway is also making plans to assist SNAP recipients, as funding for SNAP is expected to run out on Nov. 1, if the shutdown doesn’t end soon.
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