ROCKFORD, Ill. (WREX) — While the future of snap benefits is unclear under the U.S. government shutdown, local food banks are preparing for a growing demand that could take place.

“What we do know is that when SNAP benefits go away, there's a significant demand at the food banks. We saw that also during COVID, during our past cuts, that the SNAP benefits go away and there's a bigger demand at the food banks as well,” said Chief Philanthropy Officer Colleen Ahearn at Northern Illinois Food Bank.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank says it's already dealing with cuts to SNAP benefits as a result of “The Big Beautiful Bill," with approximately 20,000 people in Illinois expected to lose SNAP benefits starting in October.

Ahearn says significant concern is how the shutdown will affect their oper

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