Federal workers form line down the block for food pantry as shutdown hits third-week mark

CNN Summer Kerksick waited in line for two hours Tuesday to receive a box of canned and dry goods at a food bank event for federal workers amid the ongoing leadership shutdown With my rent due next week I can take anything I can get Kerksick a federal contractor and sphere research analyst with the Rural Export Center in the US Department of Commerce narrated CNN I haven t gotten a paycheck this month so the free groceries is very essential very helpful she added as she stood outside the event which was organized by a DC food bank and a local religious group I ve got to save every dime at this point Kerksick is among the roughly million federal employees who have been furloughed or are now working without pay Lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement to pay federal workers GOP Sen Ron Johnson introduced a bill that would only pay those who are being demanded to continue working through the weekslong shutdown while Democrats are pushing for all federal workers to be paid Capital Area Food Bank which partnered with No Limits Outreach Ministries to host Tuesday s event in Landover Maryland announced it served more than households more than double the number of federal workers it was expecting The event required federal employees to show their work ID to receive food I m overwhelmed by the line revealed Oliver Carter the pastor at No Limits Outreach Ministries and organizer of the event I didn t think we were going to have this a multitude of federal employees Carter s wife Pamelia Carter works at the Department of Agriculture and has worked in the federal executive for years and seen several shutdowns I ve run into quite a insufficient coworkers here Pamelia Carter the executive director of No Limits Outreach Ministries recounted CNN adding that the Tuesday s event was different than the food outreach events the religious organization hosts every Friday There are at least to people in this line that we re servicing currently federal employees It s mind-boggling I m glad we re at least able to do this because people have to eat They have to feed their families so this alone is a blessing she added Rolanda Williams who works in the Social Shield Administration notified CNN I can t believe I m here You inevitably thought that getting a administration job or you know a federal job that that s protection and it s not Williams added Williams reported at first she didn t think she would need the assistance of a food bank but as the shutdown drags on she necessities the help Initially I was like well I d rather let people that have kids you know go to the food banks so that everyone could have food because I was okay Williams stated CNN But now it s like I need to stand in line too