Food pantries across the country are working to help federal employees who missed a paycheck on Friday due to the ongoing partial government shutdown , including one in Boston that has helped hundreds of U.S. Coast Guard families so far.

This week, the Massachusetts Military Foundation set up a pop-up pantry specifically for families of the Coast Guard, which is the only military branch currently working without pay. Almost 400 families stopped by in the first two days to take advantage of the 30,000 pounds of free food, according to NPR .

Many families are in need of food and necessities that are often difficult and expensive to buy, foundation President Don Cox told NPR.

Weve been hit hard with the baby food, the diapers, Cox said. I mean its just a tidal wave.