Juliette Smith

When the federal government let SNAP benefits lapse last week, pantries immediately saw more people coming and calling for help.

In Boston, client advocate Juliette Smith says her pantry is already having to tell people to wait up to two weeks.

Many state and local governments are helping to fund shortfalls and private donations are pouring in, but it's still not enough, food banks and pantries say.

As one put it, they couldn't possibly make up for the failure of the federal government.

Tovia Smith, NPR News, Boston.