PHOENIX - As the ongoing federal government shutdown continues, it is also putting a spotlight on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known by its acronym SNAP.

With SNAP benefits being affected as a result of the shutdown, here's what to know about them, as well as resources that are being offered to those affected.

What's SNAP?

According to USDA's website , SNAP stands for "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," and it "provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being."

The backstory:

SNAP, per the USDA website, can trace its roots back to 1939, when the first Food Stamp Program began. That program ended in 1943, but a new pilot program was launched in 1

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