Massachusetts will send an additional $4 million in emergency food assistance to food banks as SNAP cuts off this weekend amid the ongoing government shutdown, Gov. Maura Healey announced.

But the governor will not release the money some advocates have called for directly from reserves to supplement the aid payments to residents.

“As a state we’re going to advance $4 million to our food banks, which support over 800 community organizations around the state,” Healey said at a press event on preparations for the SNAP cutoff. “This is from our existing MEFAP program, which is the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program that already provides $4 million to our community partners every month. Given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that.”

The state Senate Repub

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