FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- As the government shutdown now stretches into its 41st day, the need for food assistance is surging -- and local nonprofits are trying to keep up.

Poverello House in downtown Fresno says its lines have grown by nearly 25% in recent weeks.

"We've seen more people working and housed, but just simply with the shutdown in particular and not knowing about their SNAP benefits, coming here, waiting in line so they can feed themselves and their families," CEO of Poverello House, Zack Darrah, explained.

Just two miles down the road, dozens of people waited in line for free food, wrapped around the corner of this distribution site on Monday.

Demand spiked when SNAP/CalFresh benefits were paused at the start of the month-- leaving more than half a million Central Califo

See Full Page