Methuen, Massachusetts is bracing for an expected increase in the need for food assistance at the end of the week.

With the uncertainty of SNAP benefits on the horizon, here are food pantries offering help in Greater New Bedford and Fall River.

Top Massachusetts House Democrats made clear Wednesday that they do not plan to turn to Massachusetts’ massive rainy day fund to bail out federal food assistance benefits that are set to run out of cash this week because of the federal government shutdown.

Gov. Healey says there's "no way" Massachusetts would be able to make up for lost SNAP funding from the federal government.

Starting Saturday, thousands of Western Massachusetts families could lose their food assistance, but Congressman Richard Neal says there’s money sitting unused that could prevent it.

There was still milk — chocolate and plain — butter, loaves of bread, boxes of cereal and in a freezer, chicken and other meats. Families must be from West Springfield, Agawam and Feeding Hills to qualify. By about noon, there were 20 or so in the dining room for lunch.

TVAs the federal government shutdown drags on, millions of Americans who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are caught in the middle. Money for the program is expected to lapse in just days,

More than two dozen Democratic state leaders are suing the Department of Agriculture after the Trump administration said it would not use contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Our maps show which Massachusetts communities will be most impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits and how our state compares to the rest of the country.