Over the past week, the Marion Polk Food Share has seen a surge in donations as people in and around Salem try to help neighbors get through a delay in federal food benefits.

“You cannot walk into the lobby of the Food Share without seeing someone wheeling in a grocery cart full of donated groceries or dropping off bags of food,” said Sam West, the organization’s spokeswoman, in an email.

She said the food share has few hard numbers yet because of the “general chaos” of the moment.

But indicators of support are clear. The food bank is out of empty donation barrels for new food drives — they’re all out collecting food or reserved for planned drives. More than 100 community food drives are underway and the food bank’s volunteer schedule is booked until the new year.

The first week of del

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