In Chicago, a spirit of unity is prevailing as various community organizations, including churches and Chicago Animal Care and Control, band together to support individuals impacted by the absence of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amidst the government shutdown.

On Wednesday, Progressive Baptist Church in Chatham extended a lifeline to thousands of families by distributing groceries.

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Dedicated volunteers spent hours assisting the wave of people who arrived at the intersection of 75th Street and King Drive, eager to secure food supplies.

“Today, we encountered several families who had absolutely nothing until they reached us,” shared Pastor Charlie Dates.

This initiative was conceived by Pastor Dates, who leads both Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church.

“Jesus said it this way, ‘I was hungry and you fed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was in prison and you came to see about me.’ This is a ministry of coming to see people and see about them,” Dates said.

People like Victoria Moore, an emotional senior overwhelmed by the pause of SNAP benefits, are struggling to make ends meet.

“It’s bad. It’s really bad,” Moore said. “I really praise these people for getting out and helping us.”

Alderman William Hall was grateful for the giveaway in his ward.

“I’m just glad it sent a signal that you haven’t been forgotten about,” Hall said.

Because of the overwhelming response, the pastor is considering doing this again to help more families. He said as long as there’s a need, the church will step up to meet it.

Some got help at a West Side grocery store Wednesday.

Betty Bady was grateful to have groceries.

“This was a great blessing because, with things being cut back, prices are high. And food is really getting high. This is a really great blessing,” Bady said.

The West Sider is among the SNAP recipients affected by the interruption of food stamp benefits, who received grocery vouchers Wednesday morning.

The giveaway was the idea of the Rev. Ira Acree, who says he felt moved to help members of his Greater St. John Bible Church, who are struggling to feed their families.

“But I simply wanna make it appeal to the president, who is the leader of the free world, to really understand that 42 million people are fighting to get food on their table,” Acree said.

The 40 Acres Fresh Market on West Chicago Avenue in the city’s Austin neighborhood was packed most of the morning with a line of people waiting to get in to shop.

“What we have here are really special, and we just want to be here for a really long time, for this neighborhood that helped us get to this point in the first place,” owner Liz Abunaw said.

Several other faith leaders and local elected officials were there to support the effort.

And when word spread fast about the $50 voucher, U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stepped up to make sure people not on the original list to get a voucher were still able to get groceries.

“I would not be here, but for the generosity of the American people and the goodwill of the government. And so my modest way of giving back is is make sure other people are helped,” said Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing Illinois’ 8th District.

And while the federal cuts and the government shutdown have created an urgent need for many, Claudia Love was just glad to have something to eat.

“After the first of the month, the money goes. So anything is a help. And I thank God for it,” Love said.

SEE ALSO: Talks to end the government shutdown intensify as federal closure is on track to become longest ever