BENNETT, Colo. — The government shutdown continues to have a major impact on SNAP recipients, with many Colorado families turning to food banks to fill in the gap. But in rural communities, that's often times not an easy option.

The I-70 Street Reach Food Bank opened up in May after the only food bank in Bennett closed.

"They came to retirement age, and last December, without notice, closed down. Actually just before December, which was hard timing for the community," David Thomas, director of I-70 Street Reach Food Bank, said of the former operators.

Thomas, his wife Ruth, and a group of volunteers have a long history of giving back . After years of serving meals to the homeless in Denver, the Thomases moved to Bennett.

"We were called by Food Bank of the Rockies . My first initia

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