OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) - Like many others during the government shutdown, an Ogdensburg food pantry is seeing more people in need coming through its doors.

A visit to the Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center would typically work the same as grocery shopping for visitors.

“Everything is by points. This rack is all fruits and vegetables, and it also includes what’s in our freezers. We have fresh strawberries, beans, peas. We have chicken, we have some beef,” said Tina Keller, center director.

But after a freeze to SNAP benefits at the start of this month, the pantry is having a hard time keeping up with demand, handing out food boxes that have been pre-packaged by volunteers.

Kellar says that the number of visitors has been steadily increasing throughout the year.

With just over 550 visi

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