Southern Ill. food pantries in desperate need as SNAP benefits cutoff nears

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KFVS) - As the government shutdown continues, the cutoff deadline for SNAP benefits is only four days away.

Now, southern Illinois food pantries are barely keeping their heads above water.

J.R. Russell is the executive director of the Marion Ministerial Alliance.

“We live in a country where we shouldn’t be hungry,” Russell said.

He told Heartland News that as millions face the possibility of losing their SNAP benefits this weekend, he has never seen the need for food this significant or the amount of donations to the food pantry so low.

“We’re faced with huge shortages, donation-wise. You can see I’ve got empty shelves right here,” Russell said.

He said since the government shutdown began on October 1, the Ministerial Alliance has seen a huge rise in people just lo