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GLENARDEN, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Area churches are stepping up to help members hit hard by the government shutdown, using a combination of extra prayer and extra funds.
For example, First Baptist Church of Glenarden - which has more than 10,000 members - is giving out three-week supplies of food to furloughed government employees throughout the community.
"They don't understand why they have to go through it, and many people say its never lasted this long," Rev. Cynthia Terry said. "So they're able to get through it because we share in the burden."
Terry added that about a fourth of the calls that have come into the church's Empowerment Center this week have been shutdown-related.
It's a similar story at First Baptist Church of Highland Park, where Rev. Henry Davis said about a fourth of their 3,500 members work for the government. He said the church has started a special fund for furloughed employees, and they're being lenient when it comes to school tuition as well.