Petersburg rallies to fill food gap as federal shutdown halts SNAP benefits

Petersburg is feeling the impact of the federal government shutdown leaving families without their November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. But local organizations are responding quickly to ramp up food distribution efforts.

"It's already hitting our community hard," said Veronica Ware, the Johnson O'Malley and Social Services Director at the Petersburg Indian Association. "I've already had calls from citizens in tears because they don't have any food and they don't have any money to buy food."

Households in Petersburg who are reliant on SNAP benefits-commonly known as food...