CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — As the government shutdown heads into the weekend, local food pantries in Virginia are bracing for a potential spike in demand if the shutdown continues.

Food bank directors said they were already facing higher demand before the shutdown, and now, they're hoping for the best while preparing to ensure no one in the community goes hungry.

Volunteers at the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center serve more than 4,000 families each month, but as the shutdown stretched on, volunteers said so will the lines.

“When we come into the holiday season, the demand always goes up, and with this on top of it, we can only imagine that it could be amplified even more,” said Nick Jenkins, the organization's Community Outreach Director.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

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