“Why not us?” Kernersville mother and daughter turn front yard into food pantry

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — As the federal government shutdown stretches on, thousands of North Carolinians are still waiting for their full food assistance benefits . While the wait continues, one mother and daughter in Kernersville decided to take action, turning their front yard into a 24-hour food pantry.

The ongoing federal government shutdown has disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, leaving thousands of families with reduced or delayed payments. North Carolina officials said nearly 600,000 households received partial benefits Friday, with about 190,000 getting $16 or less and some receiving nothing. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily paused a lower court order that would have released the rest of the funds, putting full payments on hold until an appeals court