DES MOINES, Iowa -- On day 23 of the government shutdown, leaders of local organizations outlined emergency response efforts to provide food to what they describe as an unprecedented need.

State leaders around the country this week have been signaling what SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit delays could look like in November with the federal government still shutdown. The federally funded program provides food for low-income families across the country struggling with food insecurity. Because of the shutdown the United States Department of Agriculture is not expected to fund the benefits until the government is reopened.

For Polk County, recent numbers from Iowa Health and Human Services in September of this year indicated that more than 51,000 individuals from 24,9

See Full Page