{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-julie-johnson-volunteers-local-food-pantry-amid-government", "Congresswoman Julie Johnson Volunteers at Local Food Pantry Amid a Government Shutdown", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Julie Johnson", "J000310", "juliejohnson.house.gov", "juliejohnson", "https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PLANO, TX \u2014 While the federal government remains shut down, Congresswoman Julie Johnson and her district team volunteered today at Minnie\u2019s Food Pantry in Plano, helping sort donations and pack food boxes.\n\n\u201cNorth Texans want to work and get paid. Until Congress reopens the government and people see their paychecks again, places like Minnie\u2019s are carrying the load, making sure families get critical support during this difficult time,\u201d said Congresswoman Julie Johnson. \u201cOur team showed up to lend a hand because the need is real. Every box packed today is a family with one less impossible choice to make this week.\u201d\n\nDuring the visit, Johnson spoke with pantry leaders about the increased demand since the shutdown began and how sustained disruptions\u2014missed pay, delayed reimbursements, and tighter household budgets\u2014are pushing more families to seek help. Johnson reiterated her push for Trump and Republicans in Washington to end the shutdown and restore stability for workers, veterans, small businesses, and nonprofits that keep communities running.\n\n\u201cHunger isn\u2019t a new problem and it isn\u2019t one that discriminates based on political party \u2014 it\u2019s one our community has been battling for years,\u201d said owner Dr. Cheryl \u201cAction\u201d Jackson. \u201cThe government furlough and halt in SNAP benefits have amplified it to levels we haven\u2019t seen in a long time.\u201d Jackson continued, \u201cFamilies who were already on the edge are now facing impossible choices: between paying rent, keeping the lights on, or putting food on the table. The lines at Minnie\u2019s Food Pantry are growing every day. The need for food is urgent, and we are seeing firsthand how deeply this crisis is impacting families in our community. Minnie\u2019s Food Pantry remains committed to feeding every person we can, but we can\u2019t do it alone \u2014 we need the community\u2019s help now more than ever\u201d, Jackson finished.\n\n\u201cMinnie\u2019s Food Pantry does heroic work every day,\u201d Johnson added. \u201cThe fastest way to help them\u2014and the families they serve\u2014is to end this shutdown now.\u201d\n\nAbout Minnie\u2019s Food Pantry: Minnie\u2019s Food Pantry is a Plano-based nonprofit that provides healthy meals and wraparound support to North Texas families. For more information, please contact the organization directly.\n\nCongresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas\u2019 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-julie-johnson-volunteers-local-food-pantry-amid-government"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.210943028330803, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}