SPOKANE, Wash. – The free food pantry for students at Spokane Community College is seeing a significant increase in demand as the federal government shutdown raises on, with SNAP benefits expected to run out by November 1.

The food pantry not only offers fresh food and vegetables, but shelf-stable food, diapers and baby products as well.

Staff members at the community college say the increase in visits is likely due to fear of losing SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, with mounting uncertainty for when they will return.

The current shutdown is on track to be the longest in U.S. history, and both sides of the aisle remain gridlocked.

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