FORT WORTH, Texas — Food banks across North Texas are preparing for an unprecedented spike in demand after the USDA announced it will pause SNAP benefits starting Nov. 1, citing a lack of federal funding.

The suspension will affect more than 100,000 households in the region, leaving organizations like the Tarrant Area Food Bank scrambling to fill the gap.

"This is scary," said Julie Butner, CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank, surveying rows of empty shelves that she said looked better than they did the previous week. "We're really nervous about this."

The USDA said the federal funding well has "run dry," forcing the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for thousands of families. Butner projects the food bank will need to grow by 11,000 households daily once benefits

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