ROCKFORD, Ill. (WREX) — As the government shutdown continues, questions are popping up surrounding the future of SNAP benefits.

According to CNN, around 42 million people are at risk of losing their food stamps should the shutdown continue.

One of the local spots stepping in to make sure Stateline community members are taken care of is the Northern Illinois Food Bank who anticipates that if these programs do end, they could become that much more needed as was shown previously by events like the Covid-19 Pandemic.

"When those expired in March of 2023, we served 100,000 more neighbors the following month and so that was about a 20% increase. We serve about 570,000 per month throughout our 13-county service area, and so it was a 20% increase. So, we know from history that when SNAP benefit

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