IN POLK COUNTY RELY ON FOOD
BANKS EVERY DAY.
THOUSANDS ENTER THIS STORE EVERY
MONTH LOOKING FOR HELP.
>> I THINK ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
REPORTER: THIS JANUARY, 60,000
PEOPLE HERE IN POLK COUNTY
RELYING ON SNAP, THE USDA FUNDED
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE
-- RECEIVED THEIR AID AS USUAL.
>> BUT THEY HAVEN’T SAID MUCH
ABOUT FEBRUARY.
LAUREN: AND THAT IS WHAT HAS
DMARC IN DES MOINES WORRYING
THERE WILL BE A RUN ON FOOD
PANTRIES.
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE PARTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THE USDA IS
OPERATING AT JUST 5%.
>> THERE’S SO MUCH UNCERTAINT
.
THE USDA HAS NOT SAID HOW LONG
IT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SNAP
FUNDING.
LAUREN: THE NUMBERS SHOW THIS
PAST NOVEMBER SNAP GAVE OUT $7
MILLION WORTH OF ASSISTANCE TO
PEOPLE IN POLK COUNTY.
>> YOU CAN SEE THERE’S A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO RELY ON SNAP.
LAUREN: LUKE ELZINGA HAS WORKED
HERE.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS HE HAS
SEEN SHUTDOWNS BEFORE.
 THIS ONE IS MORE WORRYING
BECAUSE OF HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN
GOING ON.
REPORTER: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST
TIME SNAP RECIPIENTS WOULD MISS
OUT.
BUT IN SHUTDOWNS PAST, WIC, A
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN HAS
LOST ITS FUNDING.
>> I THINK EVERYONE IN THE
ANTI-HUNGER COMMUNITY IS A
LITTLE WARY AND REALLY WAT
