HARRISBURG, Pa. — Federal food program recipients could go a month without receiving benefits as the government shutdown enters its third week.

In an Oct. 10 letter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told state governments it would hold all November SNAP payments. The announcement would prevent $366 million from entering the commonwealth and affect nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians.

“A missed benefit payment, even by a week or two, would have ripple effects that [recipients] would have to find a way to make up for," said Zach Zook, the chief strategy officer at the Central PA Food Bank.

“In the last two years alone, food insecurity has increased 44% in Central Pennsylvania and by 40% in the state of Pennsylvania, and that matches increases seen nationally," said Zook.

Zook said the incr

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