MARION, Iowa (KCRG) - A Marion mother is turning compassion into action — packing lunches and snacks for families affected by the ongoing freeze on SNAP benefits.

When the pause in funding took effect, Aly Guillien didn’t wait for someone else to respond. She opened her pantry and freezer and got to work.

“It was something where I just saw an issue in our community and knew there just had to be something I could do to help,” she said.

Aly, a mom of two boys under seven, started with just 10 bags, each filled with whatever she could spare from home. Within 48 hours, her small idea grew into a community-wide effort. Friends began sending donations, and local residents offered to deliver some of those bags.

“As of now I’ve got 63 of these meals out the door, I have another 37 that are pla

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