SNAP benefits will be frozen on Saturday if the government doesn't reopen by then, and that could leave more than a million people in Kentucky and Indiana scrambling for food.

With SNAP benefits anticipated to halt for the first time in the nation's history at the start of November, hundreds of central Kentucky families relying on the government assistance program will need help from the community to access meals.

Federal funds could begin running dry Saturday that help tens of millions of Americans to buy food for their families if Congress doesn’t reach a deal by then to end the U.S. government shutdown.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, signed onto a lawsuit with two dozen other states Tuesday to force Trump to provide those federal funds. About one in every eight Americans receive food stamps through SNAP, for an average of $187 in benefits every month.

The Associated Press created an interactive map using data from the U.S. Census to provide a county-by-county breakdown of how many households in each state will be directly impacted by the loss of SNAP funding. Can't access the above interactive map? Click here to open the full graphic.

The Enquirer created a list of places where Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky residents can receive meals or find grocery items for free.

Thousands of families in Kentucky could be impacted, as money for the program has not been approved due to the government shutdown.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A local food bank that has been serving the Louisville community for more than 50 years is sounding the alarm as the government shutdown threatens to eliminate food assistance for millions of families.

Gov. Andy Beshear is joining leaders from 24 other states and the District of Columbia to challenge the decision to suspend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP provides food benefits for low-income families to fill in needs in their grocery budget.

Ky., joins Morning Joe to discuss how a freeze on SNAP benefits will hurt his state.Oct. 28, 2025

Millions of families across the country who rely on the federal program won't get their monthly benefits amid the government shutdown.