MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Tina Balin was one of thousands of people walked out of the door at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) back in February.

"It's certainly a challenge," she said on Wednesday. "You’re right, I’m in a more fortunate situation, but the reality is I’m just like my colleagues, former colleagues, I’ve been searching since February for a job, and the market is saturated."

Her mindset is stronger now than then, but this Montgomery County mom still has a daughter in college and bills to pay.

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"I don’t want to say I’m that set up, but in the sense I’m comfortable, I’m okay for now, but it’s not an easy time for anybody," she said. "We need to pay our bills, but those of us who joined this public service, it really is a calling."

Tina has now turned to the Alliance for American Leadership, which was formed as a direct response to USAID shutting down.

The group is still at it despite the current government shutdown.

Pictures show team members visiting both sides of the aisle in Congress to restore foreign aid.

"We care about this from the lens of it being an issue of wanting America to do the right thing, for America to be secure and America to lead on the world stage," said Asher Moss, executive director of the group, which now has 700 team members.

They hope to have 10,000 by the midterms.

"It’s our duty to help overseas," Tina said. "We’ve spent years building that leadership around the globe, building partnerships around the globe for good overseas and it would be a travesty to see that fall apart now. It’s important because I’m an American above all."