With food aid set to expire for more than 1 million Massachusetts residents this weekend due to the government shutdown, communities are scrambling to open emergency pantries and hold food drives to fill the looming gap.

Worcester has one of the state’s largest shares of residents receiving benefits commonly known as “food stamps” under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It’s “all hands on deck” in the city, as it partners with nonprofits, businesses and community groups to respond.

“Any disruption to these services has significant repercussions and we are very concerned that people will not have heating assistance, SNAP benefits, housing vouchers, etc. as we move into the colder months,” a statement on Tuesday from the Office of City Manager Eric Batista read.

The

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