"This shutdown is putting strain on our communities. It's not just a Washington problem. It's a North Carolina story," said Abby Emanuelson, the Executive Director of NC Alliance for Health.
According to NCDHHS, more than 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP, including more than 580,000 children.
"It makes me really sad because you got all these children that had nothing to do with the choices of the adults in their lives. They're the ones that are going to suffer the most," said Julie Rappleyea, a Durham grandmother who relies on SNAP.
She cares for her two grandchildren.
"It's important that we have the food so that they're not hungry and go to school hungry," Rappleyea said.
She adds that both kids have special needs, making finding full-time employment difficult.
"They don't understand as children. Why don't we have the food that we had last week? And it's really frustrating and scary for them. I don't want to scare the kids, but they are aware that is happening," Rappleyea explained.
"So many families might have to go without food for a period of time," added Kayla Lawson, a fellow SNAP recipient.
Lawson has three children, including a six-week-old.
"(SNAP) definitely takes a huge financial burden off of our family. Sometimes it can be very hard to make ends meet just trying to pay the monthly bills. So when that expense is taken off of us, it just takes so much of that worry off of us as a family," Lawson shared.
She did not receive paid maternity time off and said the impending SNAP benefit freeze has forced her to return to work sooner than expected.
"It's extremely hard to make ends meet and without working or being paid, that's impossible," Lawson explained.
Funds on EBT cards can be used after November 1st, though no new funds will be added after that date.
"It's definitely very hard to try to ration the food stamps, stretch it out. Typically, it's not enough to cover the entire month so trying to stretch it out any further than that is not very realistic. Food is just so expensive and everything is so expensive right now," said Lawson.
At the center of the government shutdown are Medicaid cuts and extensions to health care tax credits, issues Democrats want addressed as part of any continuing resolution negotiations, while Republicans believe they should be addressed separately.
In a statement, Governor Josh Stein wrote:
"I am urging the USDA to take immediate action to prevent more than 1.4 million North Carolinians - including children, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families - from going hungry. Specifically, USDA can deploy contingency funds and prevent a disruption of SNAP benefits on November 1. The administration's refusal to use these available funds as temperatures cool and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches is a cruel abdication of the responsibility to support families and communities. Congress owes it to the American people to return to the negotiating table and come together to reopen the government, stop health care premiums from skyrocketing, and ensure stability for hardworking people across our state and country."
"We are already doing more with less food banks and schools and local governments are already being forced to fill the gap. And we know that if the shutdown continues through November, that it's going to have a severe impact on our schools, on our communities, our parents, our children and seniors," said Emanuelson.
In a press release, NCDHHS noted it "does not currently have funding to maintain benefits past early November for the more than 262,000 people who depend on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This critical program provides healthy food, infant formula, nutrition education and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers and young children."
"It's definitely going to have an effect because that's how I provide healthy food for my family. That's how I afford the formula that my newborn uses. She goes to be on special formula and it's (about) $10 more per can," said Lawson.
Rappleyea credited the support of her church, pointing to an event over the weekend at Hoover Road Apartments as one way faith groups can assist the community.
"We as a community, we have to start stepping up, helping each other as well," Rappleyea explained.
SEE ALSO | NC leaders, food bank officials warn of impacts as government shutdown drags on