Gov. Josh Shapiro is freeing up around $5 million to help feed Pennsylvania residents impacted by the lapse in SNAP benefits.

The donations came from community members who ordered extra on Instacart and had it delivered. Instacart waived fees for those deliveries.

Pennsylvania’s months-long budget delay and the depletion of SNAP benefits amid a federal shutdown collided last week as lawmakers scrambled to find solutions to help those who will feel an immediate impact.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has declared a disaster emergency amid the looming SNAP benefits crisis. Shapiro is directing $5 million to Feeding Pennsylvania immediately to help distribute through its network of food banks across the state.

Friday night, federal judges have ordered the administration to fund SNAP during the government shutdown, but it remains to be seen if they are the final word on the issue, and how long it would

Meals on Wheels and the state's Department of Agriculture would also receive money under the proposed hunger relief program.

After federal court rulings, SNAP will issue November benefits to over 2 million Pennsylvanians — but at only half the usual amount.

It is the second foray by Ms. Garrity into using her office's financial clout to step in when other functions of government are coming up short.

Across the country, there are over 41 million people enrolled in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP. But how many of those receive SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania and New Jersey alone?

A group of Republican Pennsylvania elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, are hosting a food drive in Lehigh County Saturday, as thousands of families in the region face hunger due