A hunger cliff is days away. Women, children and food banks will feel it first.

Barbara Rodriguez

Interim Health and Caregiving Reporter

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Food banks in several states, including Idaho and Maine , are bracing for an influx of visitors. In South Carolina , a state emergency relief fund will be tapped to respond to demand. And in North Dakota , the state’s sole food bank has started an emergency fundraising campaign.

As lawmakers in Congress extend a nearly record-breaking federal government shutdown into possibly another month, massive cuts to critical aid are looming for the nation’s most vulnerable people — including women, postpartum parents and children.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps or SNAP, is set to run out of money beginning Saturday, the start of November.