ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Millions of Californians are expected to lose their CalFresh food assistance benefits within hours as the federal government shutdown continues, leaving low-income families across the state scrambling for help.

County leaders are calling the situation a “hunger crisis” and are turning to local food organizations such as Feeding San Diego and Interfaith Community Services to fill the growing gap. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also fast-tracked about $80 million in emergency funding to support food banks statewide.

At Interfaith Community Services in Escondido, volunteers faced a parking lot jammed with cars Thursday as families waited anxiously in a drive-thru line for boxes of food. Among them were Scott and Shirley Stovall, one of 5.5 million Californians who r

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