Families in Tri-State on verge of losing food assistance benefits as government shutdown continues

BRONX (WABC) -- On day 23 of the government shutdown, people in the Tri-State are on the verge of losing the food assistance benefits they depend on.

The demand at local food banks has already surged with tens of thousands of federal government workers in the New York City area going without a paycheck.

"I'm not working right now, so it's pretty hard to get all the food that we need," Riverdale resident Juliana Han said.

Many are now finding themselves in crisis mode.

"Well, we heard that next month we might not be getting any benefits. We're trying to stock up before something happens," Han said.

The Open Hand Food Association Food Pantry in the Morris Park section of the Bronx feeds more than 8,000 people a month and is bracing for what may come on November 1st if the SNAP program