GRAND FORKS — As the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program faces a potential lapse in funding, regional food pantries are doing their best to prepare for another influx of people coming to them for help.

SNAP benefits may be paused on Nov. 1 if the government shutdown hasn’t ended by then, leaving thousands of North Dakotans receiving those benefits unable to access the funds to purchase their food items. The state is also unable to supplement those funds because of the infrastructure used to add dollars to the Electronic Benefits Transfer cards used for SNAP.

Mark Miller, executive director of the Hope Church Community Care Center and Food Pantry, said there’s been “some fear” from the people who use the pantry regarding the possible loss of SNAP funding.

“We are seeing an increase

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