CRIVITZ, Wis. (WFRV) - Food pantry officials say that a deer hunting program is going to be more important than ever for them this year.

With food benefit programs set to stall in just a few days due to the continued federal government shutdown, food pantries throughout Northeast Wisconsin are bracing for an influx of clients.

"We are expecting a large influx," said Crivitz Area Food Pantry volunteer Suzanne Ronowski. "The phone has been ringing, people have been checking, sending messages to find out our hours. Today is a packing day, we packed extra and if need be we'll pack more boxes."

For about a decade, the Crivitz Area Food Pantry has been part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 'Deer Donation Program.' It allows hunters to donate the deer they get during hunting se

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