But on Friday, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration has to tap existing funds to keep the SNAP food assistance program running. And on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the agency would tap into a contingency fund to allow states to issue partial SNAP payments during the shutdown.

Austin-area businesses, churches and nonprofits are offering free meals to help people affected by the delays. Here’s where to get help if you need it and help others if you can.

The federal government said Monday it will only be able to cover half of the benefits for SNAP recipients this month as the shutdown continues. Many in DFW are already turning to local food pantries to make ends meet.

The government shutdown is leaving North Texans without food assistance as an emergency program launches to prevent evictions and homelessness.

About 248,000 Texas households were supposed to get SNAP benefits at the start of the month but have not received them.

"We've never in the 18 years of Minnie's Food Pantry being here, in the 31 million meals we've served, had to turn away a person," Chery Jackson said. "Am I concerned about it today? Absolutely."

The calls to the Republican governor came as the food stamp program was set to run out of funding amid the government shutdown.

East Texans who rely on federal food assistance will see their cards dry up, with no benefits issued this Saturday — a result of the second-longest federal government shutdown in American history, placing the responsibility on local food banks’ shoulders.

The government has been shut down since October 1, leaving 42 million SNAP recipients in limbo. With food aid delayed and tensions rising between lawmakers, pressure has intensified on the Trump administration to act,