Food drive set for government workers, active military in central Kansas

OGDEN (KSNT) - A local food bank is stepping up to help government employees and military personnel who are suffering from shortages amid the shutdown.

Federal employees in Kansas are about to go an entire month without receiving a paycheck due to the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1. The Flint Hills Breadbasket anticipates that active-duty military could be in trouble, especially servicemembers who rely on benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is set to hold a food drive exclusively for active-duty military and government employees who aren't getting paid. However, this isn't the only group pitching in to help.

Catholic Charities is hosting a similar food drive while groups like the American Red Cross and the Stronghold Food Pantry are donating items near military installations in Kansas. We spoke with the director of the Flint Hills Breadbasket to learn more about the effort being made to help federal employees and military servicemembers.

"We are going to continue showing up and continue serving people, and every organization I've spoken to is saying the same thing," said Karla Hagemeister, executive director of the Flint Hills Breadbasket. "We're going to keep doing what we're doing. I know that we're going to see a lot more people, that they're going to be first time visitors to us maybe, so we want them to feel welcome. We want them to feel like they are valued and respected."

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would fund SNAP during the shutdown. Kansans can expect to lose their benefits at the start of November if the bill fails to move forward.

The food drive hosted by the Flint Hills Breadbasket will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 220 Willow St. in Ogden. You can learn more about the breadbasket's mission in the community and how to pitch in to help by visiting its website.

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