WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - As they wait on the steps of Emmanuel Congregational Church for a community meal, Watertown residents Ronald Spradlin and Mary Tebo talk about the federal government shutdown and its effect on SNAP benefits.

“I never worry about anything, because I’m always a survivor,” said Ronald.

“It’s not so much me I’m worried about. It’s more so my nieces and nephews. It’s people with children. It’s babies,” said Mary. “It’s depressing, but I’m not going to let it get me down, because I know I’ll survive.”

Ronald and Mary are among the more than 14,000 people in Jefferson County who receive SNAP benefits, which are in jeopardy come Saturday.

“It’s unlikely at this point that those benefits are going to be redistributed on November 1, so we want folks to be aware first

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