"It's a welcome decision. The case I think is open and shut," said Bobby Kogan, the Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress.
"It's simply cruel to deny (recipients) the benefits that they're actually legally entitled to as some sort of political pawn in the shutdown fight," said Kogan.
Food banks had previously warned of increasing need as a result of the shutdown and in anticipation of cuts to SNAP.
"For every one meal that food banks are able to deliver, SNAP is able to deliver nine. Volunteerism is phenomenal. I think you have a civic duty to help where you can, but it is no substitute for the federal government," Kogan said.
Johnnie Thomas says these last few weeks, he's been going around and grabbing food at pantries in preparation of a delay in SNAP benefits.
"I have mental illness, anxiety, depression, that's been exacerbated by what's going," said Thomas. "I never realized that my value has a dollar sign attached to it, and not by an employer, but by my government."
The 60-year-old is on Medicaid, which Thomas says is one source of stress right now because of cuts.
"I had one bill that was a $1,000 something, and the other bill $300 and something," said Thomas.
Thomas says keeping food on the table for himself and his child is another big concern.
He spent more than 30 years homeless while battling addiction.
Thomas says he's been clean for some time, has housing now and is helping to raise his 10-year-old son.
His SNAP benefits will be delayed starting November 1st.
"What's happening is stressful," said Thomas. "I sometimes have to isolate and stay to myself because I don't want to explode on somebody, or I don't want to relapse."
Nonprofits are bracing for major changes.
The Arc of North Carolina provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
CEO Lisa Poteat says Medicaid cuts will affect the nonprofit dramatically, which could mean staff members might have their salaries reduced.
"Even some of our staff, their families receive SNAP," said Poteat. "We cannot reduce their pay by 60 percent. We would lose all those people and we're already in a workforce crisis. (We're) actively looking at everything across The Arc and looking at what makes most sense to cut, to come in line with the revenue that we project to be receiving."
Thomas is hoping lawmakers come to a resolution on the federal shutdown.
"This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is a human issue," he said.
According to NCDHHS, as of April, more than 1.4 North Carolinians were enrolled in SNAP, including about 580,000 children.
"I've got our candy caldron over there and we've got some shelf stable items for kids are adults," said Jessica Koroni, a dietician.
She saw a push on social media to leave out non-perishables this Halloween.
"We're not trying to interview someone at the door and ask them if they're on SNAP. We're not trying to give out food instead of candy. It's really just increasing the access to food. If someone needs it, it's there and they've got candy and they've got food and they've got novelty items and it still keeps the fun." Koroni explained.
Typically, money is added to EBT cards at the beginning of the month, but that won't be the case tomorrow, leaving SNAP recipients facing a difficult situation for the time-being.
"There's a lot that parents have to worry about right now," said Koroni.
North Carolina joined 24 other states in the lawsuit that will partially fund SNAP benefits.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following statement on the ruling:
"Great news: In the lawsuit we filed, a federal court just ruled that the Agriculture Department acted unlawfully by refusing to use its emergency fund to make SNAP payments. It has until Monday to deliver a plan to pay benefits.
We're not finished, but this is a major step toward making sure 16 million kids don't go hungry."
President Trump responded to the rulings on Truth Social, writing in part:
"Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible."
SEE ALSO | How to talk to kids about food insecurity amid looming SNAP benefit cuts