Locals react to the government reopening
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The government shutdown has ended after 46 days affecting millions of Americans across the country.
The Yuma Community Food Bank says they’ve seen an 80% increase in people looking for help.
Although the government shutdown is officially over, it’s still gonna take some time for everyone to recover.
“It’s gonna take a long time for this to actually catch up. There’s a lot of funds. A lot of people never got pay checks. They don’t know when they’ll get the funds released,” says Andy Robinson, President and CEO of the Yuma Community Food Bank.
The U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground shared a statement with us saying, “Our team resumed full operations with focus and professionalism, and we continue to stand at the forefront of Army transformation.”
Local Cassandra Quintero says the reopening comes at a great time before the holidays saying, “Thanksgiving is around the corner and it’s just in time to be grateful for a nation that is now united.”
Robinson adds the end of the shutdown is positive but recognizes there is still work to be done, and help they still need.
“We have to order product which we have been ordering, but it doesn’t mean its being delivered so it all has to be processed. It all takes time so it can be weeks. Maybe even months before we see us kinda back to normal,” says Robinson.
The food bank is asking for donations and volunteers. You can head to the food bank for more information.