'I feel guilty eating a meal': Low-income families prepare to lose access to billions in federal aid

In the quiet moments before dawn, Annemarie King forces down her first meal of the day. Her husband Randall, hands raw from extra shifts at the drywall factory, slips into bed beside her, knowing his own plate will remain empty until tomorrow. Across America, 42 million families face similar choices as federal food benefits prepare to run dry in November.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), lifeline for millions, now hangs in the balance. For the Kings, it's not just about groceries. "I feel guilty eating a meal when my kids might be hungry at school," Annemarie confesses, her voice thick with exhaustion. Their story mirrors countless households stretching every dollar, skipping medications, and delaying bills to keep food on the table.

"We're not asking for luxury," Randall says, wiping cement dust from his worn boots. "Just enough to make sure our children don't go to bed dreaming of empty cupboards."

As the government shutdown continues, the human cost becomes increasingly visible. Food pantries report unprecedented demand while grocery store managers notice more customers carefully counting coins at checkout counters. Public health experts warn of lasting consequences: childhood malnutrition, chronic stress, and a generation watching parents navigate impossible trade-offs between rent and groceries.

In congressional hallways, debates continue over budget allocations while families like the Kings face daily hunger. For now, they cling to hope - that lawmakers will resolve their differences before the food stamp benefits disappear entirely, before the last SNAP card reads zero, before Annemarie must explain to her children why the dinner table remains empty once more.

Read the original article on CNN.