As the federal government shutdown threatens to disrupt food assistance programs nationwide, San Antonio College’s Student Advocacy Center is preparing for a surge in demand for its services.

The center, which has been a resource to students for nearly a decade, serves approximately 2,700 students every week.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the federal food benefits will not go out on Nov. 1 because the “well has run dry” on funding amid the government shutdown.

The pausing of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is set to affect approximately 1.1 million college students across America who are on the program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Our students are already coming to us and saying, ‘I’m out. I’m out of my benefits, and

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