Northwest Arkansas will see some short- and long-term impacts from the loss of federal food assistance benefits earlier this month, but the community has stepped up in a big way, according to area food bank representatives.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ran out of money Nov. 1 during the government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance Thursday permitting the full delivery of benefits after the government reopened, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services reported it was distributing benefits to the state’s residents as early as Thursday night.

Multiple Northwest Arkansas food banks saw a spike in the number of people needing food assistance during the period benefits were suspended.

Monique Jones, a minister at St. James Missionary Bap

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