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Food banks across the area are working overtime to fill the gap and feed the hungry even as it looks more likely the federal government will reopen after being shutdown for more than 40 days.

The shutdown left many government food program recipients uncertain about when their benefits will resume.

Harvesters, one of the region's largest food networks, recently purchased over $500,000 of food that was distributed in just a few hours.

That's another example of the overwhelming demand during the government shutdown.

"That half a million dollar investment is practically already out the door," said Elizabeth Keever, chief resource officer at Harvesters.

The organization has been navigating rapidly changing information following weekend funding developments

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