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Kansas City nonprofits stepped up during the shutdown

An illustration showing the Kansas City skyline with the words "Kansas City Today"

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history appears to be near an end. But weeks without paychecks and cuts to SNAP benefits put many Kansas Citians in desperate situations — and turning to local support systems like food pantries, mental health services and utility assistance programs.

KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Kera Mashek, director of communications at United Way of Greater Kansas City, and Maggie Haghirian, chief program officer for Jewish Family Services, about the struggles those nonprofits are facing and how Kansas Citians are feeling.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Jacob Smollen and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

As a newscaster and a host of a daily news podcast, I want to deliver the most important and interesting news of the day in an engaging and easily understandable way. No matter where you live in the metro or what you’re interested in, I want you to learn something from each newscast or podcast – and maybe even give you something to talk about at the dinner table.
Jacob Smollen is the 2025-2026 intern for KCUR Studios. Email him at jsmollen@kcur.org.
KCUR is here for Kansas City, because Kansas City is here for KCUR.

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