Nonprofits and church members in northeast Washington are teaming up to help people stay fed amid a lapse in federal nutrition benefits.

“I felt like there needed to be a collaboration, everybody getting together, getting on the same page, streamlining, knowing who needs help with what, and sharing those resources,” said Kelli Lippert, manager for Colville’s Farmers Market.

Lippert said she organized the effort to bridge food insecurity after Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits failed to arrive on time. The USDA has cited the nation’s longest government shutdown as the cause. In a Monday court filing, the agency said it would exhaust contingency funds to issue reduced November benefits, although it’s been unclear when families would receive the partial benefits.

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