As the federal government shutdown approaches its one-month mark, the Arkansas Department of Human Services warned on Wednesday that Arkansans who receive food assistance “should prepare for a possible delay or disruption in November benefits” if the standoff continues much longer.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was helping 222,000 Arkansans buy groceries as of Sept. 1. That’s about 7% of the state population. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities , a D.C. think tank, almost two-thirds of SNAP participants in Arkansas are in families with children. A large share are also older adults or people with disabilities.

SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — is paid through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is the country’s main program to keep

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