A few hundred people gathered Wednesday inside the auditorium of St. Lucy’s Church while some lined up outside. Some sat down at tables for lunch while others waited with their carts, carefully paying heed to the number being called out front. They patiently waited their turn to stock up on food ahead of the bleak future.
Ashawnti Harris, 36, stood by the table, watching her three-year-old rummage through Halloween candy. On Monday, Harris received a text message on her flip phone from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance that said: “November SNAP Benefits may be delayed due to federal shutdown.”
The federal government’s shutdown, which has now gone on for a month, is likely to delay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, critical for families in poverty who need help to buy groceries…