BATON ROUGE, La. — As the federal government shutdown enters its fifth week, on track to become the longest in U.S. history, millions of Americans are now facing the harsh reality of going more than a month without essential resources.

The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging (EBRCOA) stepped up Monday to provide emergency food assistance to local seniors who have been impacted by the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

“It’s totally a food crisis for seniors in this parish,” said Tasha Clark-Amar, CEO of EBRCOA. “There are over ten thousand seniors in East Baton Rouge Parish who receive SNAP benefits.”

At the drive-through distribution site, volunteers loaded cars with boxes of fresh produce, pantry staples, and ready-to-eat meals, a lifeline for elder

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