The government shutdown has now stretched into its fifth week, and as time goes on, new effects are starting to show.
The ongoing government shutdown has paused SNAP benefit payments for the first time in the program's history. Now, more than 180,000 Utahns face uncertainty about how they'll pay for groceries in November.
SNAP benefits are monthly federal funds that help low-income individuals and families buy groceries. During previous shutdowns, the federal government found ways to keep food benefits flowing. But this time, the process is slower — and the Trump administration says it will only release half of the usual SNAP benefits for November.
“There are a lot of people who entirely depend on their SNAP benefits, and knowing that these wouldn’t be available in November really caused a lot of panic," Cornia said.
Utahns Against Hunger executive director Gina Cornia organized a "Hunger is Scary" event outside the federal building in Salt Lake City to urge the White House to release the funding for SNAP benefits.
"So the next step is to urge the governor to call the White House and tell him to release the funds ASAP, as ordered by two federal judges," Cornia said.
Until those funds roll out, Utahns are stepping up to fill the gap themselves. A local church took to the streets to help those in need.
"So we just thought, ‘Let’s give out groceries and give out food as much as we can, so that’s what we did,'" Rosales Saenz said.
While Saenz and other volunteers say they want to bring some hope and relief to their neighbors as they wait for federal help, community efforts like this can only go so far.
“For every one meal provided by a food pantry, SNAP provides nine. So there’s just no way our current system can fill that gap," Cornia said.
Local food banks across Utah are already seeing that strain. At Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo, staff say the first day without SNAP benefits was busier than ever.
"This is the first day that we have been open since the shutdown, so we have seen people coming in who need help because their SNAP benefits are cut, and we have yet to see the promised funds in," Miller said.
Until full federal funding returns, communities will need to rely on each other to make sure no one goes hungry.
Local food banks across the country are asking for donations and volunteers as the government rolls out SNAP benefit funds.