St. Mary’s Food Bank is struggling to meet demand as the federal government shutdown rolls into its fifth week and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are slashed.

In fact, the Phoenix-based food bank recently has seen increases of 10% to 15% in demand.

To help, 38 middle school students of Scottsdale’s International School of Arizona are taking matters in their own hands.

The kids recently spent a day packing food into boxes and loading them into waiting cars.

“The cars were backed up at least I would say a quarter mile,” said ISA Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Kevin Wilkinson.

Jerry Brown, a spokesman for the food bank, said help like what the students offered is crucial to achieving the organization’s goals.

“We’re distributing more than 100,000 emergency

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