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Just like every Saturday morning, volunteers at St. Andrew Church in Pasadena have gathered to hand out food products to those in need.
But today, the work takes on a different level of urgency as SNAP food assistance for millions of Americans has lapsed because of the government shutdown.
“ I sent out an email to all of the volunteers that have been here at one time or another to let them know that we didn’t know what to expect,” says Griselda Saucedo, secretary of the parish, where the volunteer-run food bank operates out of.
Scenes from a local food bank this weekend, as SNAP benefits lapse
“We have extra volunteers here just to make sure that everyone, if they have any questions, to calm their nerves, just so we have extra smiling faces here to help those in need.”
People line up to get food from the food bank at St. Andrew Church in Pasadena.
By mid-morning, it was clear to Saucedo that there was an uptick of people visiting the pantry.
One of them is James Brogan, a Pasadena resident who’s visiting the St. Andrew pantry for the first time.
He started receiving food stamps after losing his job — and is at the pantry this morning to get food to tide him over.
“ I just started a new job this week and looking to get on my feet and start saving money,” Brogan said.
Today, he picked up some  ground beef, vegetables and canned goods.
Future unknown
On Friday, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to resume SNAP benefits for the 42 million recipients. The White House has until Monday to make that decision. What comes next remains unclear.
And it couldn’t come at a worse time for many, says Jacky Gomez, a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul.
“ It’s not only the funding that’s scary for people, it’s the holidays that are coming up,” Gomez says.