Marion County is likely going to send thousands of dollars to local food pantries in response to the federal government shutdown withholding food benefits for thousands of local families.

The county announced Thursday evening that its Board of Commissioners discussed spending $100,000 per week for the next two weeks for food baskets through partnerships with pantries, including the Marion Polk Food Share.

The announcement came as the federal government shutdown is less than two days away from a Nov. 1 deadline to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. County officials expect to make a final decision next week once it’s clear if benefits did not go out.

How to help people or get food in Salem as SNAP benefits are delayed

The discussion came from a meeting with the food

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