SPOKANE, Wash. — Thousands of people across the Inland Northwest are still waiting for their monthly food stamps. Local food banks expect delays and more people to rely on them, even if the government shutdown ends.

The Caritas Food Bank in Spokane sees 16 new clients daily as people wait for SNAP benefits. Some people received benefits after a federal judge's order Friday, but many others like Melinda Helm still haven't received payments.

Caritas received several hundred pounds of donations over the last two weeks. The donations came just in time for all the new clients walking through their doors.

"It's really tough because, I don't have hardly anything at home to eat. Basically I'm just living off of peanut butter, bread and cheese, and I have diabetes," Helm said. She came to Carita

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