EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Operation H.O.P.E., the longstanding organization known for helping those in need around the Borderland, is now assisting those affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
The organization is hosting a drive-thru food giveaway for furloughed federal workers in the region.
The drive-thru is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 18.
Operation H.O.P.E. and its volunteers will be set up outside the El Paso Police Department Northeast Regional Command Center, 9600 Dyer St. They are offering one food basket per vehicle until noon.
Thousands of families across El Paso are now facing the reality of more missed paychecks in the coming weeks.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, has noted nearly 20,000 federal employees in the area could be impacted. October 10 was the first missed pay period of the shutdown.
Rubi Gomez from Operation H.O.P.E. tells KTSM that many of the families in need they’re hearing from are soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss.
Officials on post confirmed that military personnel are continuing to work during the shutdown, but will not receive pay until Congress reaches a funding agreement.
NBC reports the Senate is returning to the Capitol on Tuesday for more votes on a Republican short-term spending measure. However, no clear resolution has emerged in what is now the fifth-longest shutdown in U.S. history.
For more on Operation H.O.P.E.’s events you can visit their their Facebook page on facebook.com/operationhopeelpaso.