Federal officials restored full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to eligible Central Texas recipients on or after Nov. 14, following the end of the government shutdown in Austin, Texas.
Local food banks reported how the temporary disruption affected families relying on the program.
The Central Texas Food Bank said households in its service area experienced reduced or delayed SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Officials said many clients relied on emergency food distributions to compensate for the shortfall.
Officials noted that many families depleted savings or incurred additional debt to cover food costs during the shutdown. The Central Texas Food Bank said it continues coordinating with partner agencies to maintain increased food assistance capacity and connects affected households with additional support services.
Food bank leadership said it will review the shutdown period to assess resource needs for future emergency responses. Officials encouraged SNAP recipients and food bank clients to check benefit balances and available community resources.
The Central Texas Food Bank said it continues to accept food and monetary donations to support service levels following the shutdown.
