With CalFresh benefits about to lapse, Inland Empire food banks worry about shrinking safety net

In the Inland Empire — where many worry about finding their next meal — thousands of residents who rely on federal aid will be scrambling for food by the end of this week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted an online notice that federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — called SNAP — will not be issued beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, amid the federal government shutdown that’s now in its fifth week.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA notice reads, adding that “Senate Democrats” voted not to fund SNAP. The federal program provides money for low-income families to afford healthy food, and helps 42 million — about 1 in 8 — Americans. In California, the aid is known as CalFresh.

As the shutdown — which began Wednesday, Oct. 1 — continues, officials at