STAFFORD, Va. — Dan Maher knew there would be a big turnout. The CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank said more clients showed up than at previous distribution events.

You can thank the government shutdown.

The regional food bank held its first pop-up event to provide free produce to furloughed federal employees and government contractors amid the ongoing government shutdown. The event came as the White House announced a new round of federal layoffs and as conversations between Republicans and Democrats to end the shutdown seemingly hit a wall.

Maher said the drive-thru served more than 150 families in two hours — about 50% higher than other events. He described the regional community — which has the second-highest concentration of federal workers outside the city of Alexand

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