WALLER COUNTY, Texas – Thousands of Texas families could soon lose access to the food assistance they depend on. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal agency that funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), says there is not enough money to pay for full November benefits if the government shutdown continues past the end of October.

LIST: Help for Houston-area families at risk of losing SNAP benefits amid government shutdown

Across the Houston area, more than 900,000 people rely on SNAP benefits to help buy groceries. For roughly 70,000 families in rural areas, that loss could be devastating — pushing many to already strained food pantries like Helping Hands in Waller County.

Food pantries already feeling the strain

At Helping Hands, volunteers say

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