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When Kyra Gleckler heard about the impending disruptions to SNAP starting Sunday, she felt called to take action.

“I myself have been on SNAP before when I was a single parent,” she said. “It’s something kids are going to suffer from and they don’t have anything to do with it.”

So she made a Facebook post, asking if anyone would be interested in collecting donations or cooking community meals.

Five days later, a group of about 20 volunteers gathered to brainstorm. Gleckler said they’ve already received enough donations to form a small nonprofit called Guernsey County Community Growth.

The group will put together food distribution boxes for community members and bags to send home with local students.

Gleckler is one of many community leaders throughout southeast Ohio mobilizing to support those at risk of soon going without SNAP benefits.

If the ongoing federal shutdown continues into November, SNAP recipients will not see new benefits loaded onto their accounts, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Those with a remaining balance in will still be able to access those funds.

While the Trump administration said last week it could not continue to fund SNAP during the shutdown, several state leaders suing the federal government disagree.

Joining us for NBC4 at 11pm, we will be talking with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks about the boost and how long this help will last.

As the nation braced for the expected lapse in the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) on the final day in October, federal judges ruled the government must continue funding the program.

Rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use over $5 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Thursday he signed an executive order that he says will provide up to $25 million in food assistance as the continued federal government shutdown threatens to affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

The governor said the executive order will direct the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to give $7 million to various food banks across the state and up to $18 million in emergency relief benefits. The benefits would go to help more than 63,000 Ohioans, including more than 57,000 children, who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level.

Food banks statewide have been stressing that they're open during the shutdown, and have been ready to help federal workers who have stopped getting paychecks. But they're also preparing for more demand if the shutdown continues, and as they get ready for the holiday season and winter. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks said in a statement last week: “We are counting on our donors, supporters and communities to step up in any way they can as our network continues its response. This situation underscores the vital role of public-private partnerships in supporting working families."

Ohio food banks are preparing for increased demand as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly referred to as food stamps, is expected to run out in November if the partial government shutdown continues.