In his day job as president of Woodward Interests, Bill Hoffman hasn’t much noticed the federal government shutdown. His New Orleans real estate development firm is still planning projects, like the redevelopment of the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center in Mid-City, and operating as usual with no disruptions to supply chains or services.

As a volunteer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, however, Hoffman has seen the effects up close. He's worked with the nonprofit organization's leadership to identify new funding sources at a time when more people around New Orleans need food assistance and federal support is drying up.

He fears it’s about to get a lot worse.

Thousands of federal workers in the state have been furloughed or are working without a paycheck.

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