DENVER — More than 600,000 Coloradans could miss out on their November food benefits if the government shutdown continues, according to the state's Department of Human Services (CDHS) .

Naoki Matsumoto, who relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help feed his family, stocked up on food at a pantry in Lakewood on Thursday as uncertainty grows around the federal program.

"It's very difficult right now," Matsumoto said.

SNAP helps low-income families purchase food, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns that funds will dry up if the government shutdown drags on.

Nearly 290,000 people across the Denver metro receive SNAP benefits. In Denver County alone, there are nearly 100,000 SNAP recipients.

In a notice Wednesday, the Jefferson County Depa

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