ROCKFORD — The number of residents lining up for help from local food pantries has already been on the rise this year. Tabatha Endres-Cruz is afraid of what will happen next.
The CEO of the Rock River Valley Pantry said they’ve seen a steady increase month-over-month in people served so far this year. She expects those numbers will further grow once benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program halt on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown.
“Last week, I can’t even begin to tell you what that increase became,” Endres-Cruz said Monday during a news conference to draw attention to the ramifications of halting SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. “We saw over 200-plus households walk through our doors on Thursday, and then another 200 came through on Friday. ……