CHICO — Chico State student Nikos Dal Canto hits the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry every day after class, five days a week. His go-to choice is eggs. “They’re hearty,” he says.

But eggs and other food items may be harder to find at this pantry and others because of an expected increase in demand for food in the next month.

More than 42,000 residents in Butte County will not be receiving Cal Fresh benefits on time in November because of the federal government shutdown, and a delay will continue until the shutdown ends, according to Cristi Roach, assistant director of employment and eligibility at the Department of Employment and Social Services.

Roach said about $8 million in benefits were dispersed in Butte County in September and the next disbursement, which she said would be about the sa

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