PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - More than two weeks into the government shutdown, a Peoria food pantry is serving more people, and leaders said they only expect it to increase.

Sophia’s Kitchen Manager Courtney Dozard said they are used to seeing 400 to 500 people for daily meals. She said it has recently been closer to 600 every day. She said their food pantry is seeing around 150 people every day.

Dozard said they are anticipating another increase in need when SNAP benefits run out.

“We will see a huge increase in people coming, which means we’ll need more volunteers, and we’ll need more donations,” Dozard said. “Anything like that will be extremely useful.”

She said the demographics they’re seeing more of now are families and the elderly.

Sophia’s Kitchen is located at 105 N. Richard Pr

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