North Charleston, South Carolina. As the government shutdown comes to a conclusion, many people in the Lowcountry continue to feel the effects.
Resource centers are feeding record crowds while rapidly exhausting their supplies. Director Louis Smith of the North Charleston Community Resource Center described the scenario as “a desperation feeling,” adding that they hope to assist approximately 5,000 people in one day.
“All that food is gonna be gone today,” Smith stated, emphasizing the critical need for resources.
Federal employees who have been unpaid for weeks are increasingly turning to these facilities for help.
April Lott, president of the Charleston Labor Council, voiced worry for the workers.
“How are they supposed to pay for childcare?” Lott asked. “How are they supposed to pay for gas, even to get to work, when they have nothing coming in?”
Lott told the example of an employee who received an eviction notice, stressing the difficult circumstances many people confront.
In response, the community center is working with local groups to host a large distribution event on Friday to assist alleviate the pain.
Lott urged the community to show their support for federal workers, adding, “If you know a federal worker, please encourage them. Let them know you’re thinking about them and offer assistance where you can.
