CONSTRUCTION SITE.
FIREFIGHTERS USED A PULLEY
SYSTEM TO HOIST HIM OUT IN A
BASKET.
PARAMEDICS TOOK HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL.
HE WAS TREATED FOR BROKEN
BONES.
DAY 28 OF THE FEDERAL
SHUTDOWN.
THERE IS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT
THE STRAIN IT IS PUTTING ON
FOOD SHELVES AND FOOD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
THIS AFTERNOON DEMOCRATIC
U.S. SENATOR TINA SMITH MET
WITH STATE PARTNERS AND VOICED
FRUSTRATION.
Reporter: IT IS NO QUESTION
FOOD IS THE FOUNDATION, JUST
ASKED CECILIA.
YOU TALK ABOUT FOOD, IT DOES
BECOME A REAL ISSUE AND CRISIS.
Reporter: SHE MET WITH TO
SENATOR TINA SMITH AND FOOD
PARTNERS FROM AROUND THE STATE.
SHE RELIES ON THE SNAP
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND IS
CONCERNED WHERE HER MEALS WERE
COME FROM IF THE GOVERNMENT
STAYS SHUT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO
TURN.
WE DO TURN TO THE FOOD SHELF,
BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE
WE CAN TURN.
Reporter: RIGHT NOW THE
FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM IS
FUNDED THROUGH FEBRUARY BUT THE
SHUTDOWN IS FORCING FOOD BANKS
TO LOOK AHEAD.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO MISS A MEAL.
Reporter: SECOND HARVEST
HEARTLAND DISTRIBUTES 75% OF
THE FOOD AND FOOD SHELVES.
THEY ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF FURLOUGHED WORKERS BUT
THE EMERGENCY FOOD CANNOT
HANDLE FEEDING ANOTHER 400,000
SNAP RECIPIENTS IN THE STATE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE
THE SUPPLY BY ABOUT THREE
TIMES.
WE ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN
AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
BRING IN MORE HEALTHY FOOD FOR
FOLKS WHO NEED IT, FOR THE ONE
IN EIGHT MINNESOTA KIDS
EXPERIENCING HUNGER RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN'T RESPOND TO AN INCREASE
IN DEMAND THAT SIGNIFICANT.
Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER
SAYS THE STATE IS FIGURING OUT
HOW IT CAN STEP IN IF NEEDED.
THE SNAP PROGRAM COSTS $44
MILLION PER MONTH IN MINNESOTA.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT IF THE FEDS ARE
READY TO LEAD, MINNESOTA IS.
WHAT YOU SEE IS THIS
CASCADING IMPACT.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE
SUCH STRONG LEADERSHIP IN THE
STATE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
REOPEN GOVERNMENT SO MINNESOTA
DOESN'T HAVE TO STEP IN AND
FILL THE GAP.
SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND IS
