ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Millions of families across the country could soon lose the food assistance they rely on — and with Thanksgiving just weeks away, the timing couldn’t be worse.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, nearly 1.4 million Georgians are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps low-income families afford groceries. But those benefits could stop on Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown continues, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We’re going to run out of money in two weeks,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Thursday. “Millions of vulnerable, hungry families won’t have access to these programs because of this shutdown.”

For Atlanta mother Tabitha Brown, that possibility is devastating. Brown, who is raising five children, said she doesn’t know what she’ll do if her benefits disappear.

“When the stamps cut off after this month, what happens next month?” Brown said. “A lot of people may go and start breaking stuff, breaking in stores, stealing food. It’s hard. And I’m not saying I’ll do that, but other families — you don’t know what it’s like.”

Community groups are stepping in to help fill the gap. In Atlanta, the nonprofit Women’s International Grail plans to provide 500 Thanksgiving meals this year.

“With this freeze going on, nobody’s sure if they will receive their benefits or not,” said founder Demetria Henderson. “But we’re going to make sure families in Atlanta have not only food, but job opportunities, mental health assistance and winter essentials.”

Henderson said the ongoing shutdown has also affected some of their partners, with a few donors and nonprofits pulling out of planned holiday events because their funding has been delayed.

For families like Brown’s, it’s a stressful time — but she’s trying to focus on what truly matters.

The USDA has warned that if Congress doesn’t reach an agreement soon, SNAP benefits could run out nationwide. In Georgia, that would affect nearly one in seven families.

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