Those who depend on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, didn’t receive benefits last weekend amid the government shutdown.

It has created growing pressure on community food banks.

Volunteers at Flagstaff Family Food Center’s kitchen chopped fruit and bagged sandwiches on Monday.

Army veteran and SNAP recipient Troy Sandstedt was among them.

“I know exactly how many days of food I got, and how far I'm going to have to stretch it,” Sandstedt says. “It has left me basically with no food in my house, stressing a lot. Then I found the food bank and, well, at least I can get food here.”

Adrian Skabelund / KNAU

He has relied on SNAP since a car accident prevented him from delivering for DoorDash five months ago.

“It's rough. And my neighbors, who would never use the f

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