100,000 in CNY will lose food stamp benefits this week: ‘How can we get food?’

Syracuse, N.Y. — More than 50,000 people in Onondaga County alone will lose their grocery money starting this weekend.

The federal food stamp program, referred to as SNAP, is caught up in the government shutdown and will not be funded starting Nov. 1.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, posted on its website Monday that states will not be paid any benefits this week.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” reads a statement posted to the U.S.D.A.’s home page Monday. The agency issues $8 billion monthly in grocery money nationwide. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued Nov. 1.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is one of the largest and longest-running national efforts to help families make ends meet. It distributes $642 million in grocer