By Aaron Parseghian, WBZ-TV

As the federal government shutdown drags on, millions of Americans who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are caught in the middle. Money for the program is expected to lapse in just days, and those who rely on it to put food on the table are scrambling to adjust.

Melinda Delarosa of Waltham, Massachusetts says federal food assistance is what helps keep her family fed.

"They help out a great amount," Delarosa said of her SNAP benefits. Delarosa is a full-time caretaker for her 11-year-old son Edison, who has autism.

"People need to understand, you know, we're not doing this on purpose," she said. "We're not intentionally saying, hey, I need to live off the government."

1 in 8 people enrolled in SNAP

Delarosa is one of

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