Maine (WABI) - The federal government has been shut down for three weeks and counting.
Those who rely on food benefits are worried following the announcement that SNAP benefits will not be issued next month.
Nearly 170,000 Mainers depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“The federal SNAP program helps support food security, improve health outcomes, and strengthen Maine’s economy,” said Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Sara Gagné-Holmes. “For tens of thousands of Maine people, these benefits mean the ability to put food on the table. A disruption of this scale will also impact Maine’s food pantries, which are vital partners in helping communities meet basic needs, as well as retailers. We are monitoring developments closely and will continue to asse