The ongoing government shutdown, now more than a month long, is leaving millions of Americans struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. Here in the Coastal Bend, local nonprofits are stepping up to meet the growing demand.

One of those is The Free Store, a grassroots organization founded by Marilena Garza. What started as a small community outreach program for clothing and shoes has now become a lifeline for hundreds of families.

“Initially, my nonprofit’s focus was clothing and shoes particularly,” Garza said. “We had to pick up food just because of the need. The need was staring us in the face saying, ‘Hey, thanks for the shoes, but I haven’t eaten in two days.’”

Garza said her organization has seen a nearly 40% increase in requests for help since the shutdown began. Many of

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