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As uncertainty over federal SNAP benefits continues amid the government shutdown, seniors across the Northland are feeling the strain. One Gladstone food pantry says demand for help has nearly doubled and theyre struggling to keep their shelves stocked.

The Plate of Hope food pantry at the Northland Shepherds Center in Gladstone has only been open for about two years, but staff say the number of people seeking food assistance has grown sharply in that short time.

We have pantry two days a week, and we're seeing up to 30 to 35 people a day, said Rebecca Brown, Family Manager at the center. Some of them are having their benefits cut from SNAP, and theyre thankful for anything they can get through here.

For many, the pantry has become a lifeline especiall

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