KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Federal funds that help tens of millions of Americans buy food for their families could potentially run dry on Saturday if Congress doesn’t reach a deal to end the U.S. government shutdown.

SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, gives low-income households additional resources to be able to purchase more food from grocery stores and other participating programs.

The US Department of Agriculture has warned there is not enough money to fund the program into November without Congressional action, so benefits would be cut off by the end of the week.

Right now, the number of people who receive SNAP assistance in East Tennessee is over 120,000 people.

WVLT’s Will Puckett talked to the The Love Kitchen’s Executive Director Martin Riggi

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