INDIANAPOLIS — As the federal shutdown halts food assistance for hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers, local leaders are rushing to make sure families don’t go hungry.

Beginning in November, more than 600,000 Indiana residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may not receive benefits for the first time since the program began. The potential pause has food banks, city leaders and nonprofits preparing for an unprecedented surge in need.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and City-County Councilor Carlos Perkins (D-District 6) announced that the city will dedicate $200,000, including corporate matches from IU Health and Cummins, to expand food distribution across Indianapolis.

The United Way of Central Indiana also launched a $1 million Central Indiana Food Relief Fund to

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