As we approach one full month of the federal government shutdown, the Houston Food Bank is planning distribution sites to help those who are impacted.

Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to declare a state of emergency and fund SNAP benefits for 3.5 million Texans who will lose food assistance in November due to the government shutdown.

With what’s going on, I felt like the community should pick up where the government left off,” Petit Beignets & Tapioca co-owner Nhan Ngo said.

The Houston Food Bank, along with other anti-hunger organizations, prepares for the surge in demand they expect will come with the end of SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.

As many as 500 employees of the federal government came to a food distribution event hosted by the Houston Food Bank. They haven’t received a paycheck in weeks — and many are working without pay.

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

This new facility is set to triple the number of meals provided to Houston's children in need, expanding from 10,000 to a potential 26,000 meals a day by 2031.

The Houston Food Bank is stepping up distribution as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits dry up and federal workers continue to go without pay. Why it matters: The federal government shutdown will stop food aid Saturday for nearly 42 million Americans.