ORLANDO, Fla. — There is some good and bad news for food stamp recipients because of the government shutdown: The good — your February benefits will be made available earlier than expected. The bad — many are being cautioned to budget those benefits because of uncertainty surrounding the SNAP program.

• Food pantries expecting influx from SNAP recipients, furloughed employees
• Second Harvest seeing about a 60 percent increase in online searches 
• Officials are encouraging those impacted by shutdown to budget carefully

SNAP recipients, as well as furloughed federal employees, are turning to food banks. Several in Central Florida are preparing for the influx and stand in the ready to help families in need.

Brittney Williams knows her way around a kitchen — she’s a student in the Second Harvest Food Bank Culinary Training Program.

While she’s a chef in training, Williams is also an unemployed single mom who heavily relies on SNAP or food stamp benefits.

“If we don’t receive our SNAP benefits, I’m not really sure how I would provide food for my family after that,” she said.

The Florida Department of Children and Family Services recently announced recipients of the SNAP program will get their February benefits on January 20.

It’s still not clear what will happen if the shutdown lasts past February, but Williams isn’t taking any chances.

“I’ve actually been to two food banks so far to get canned goods just in case, just to be able to stock up, because I want to be at least a month prepared …” Williams said.

Kelly Quintero with Second Harvest Food Bank says they are already providing assistance to furloughed government workers and are ready to help those who rely on SNAP benefits.

“We caution individuals that do use SNAP to put food back on their tables, to maybe budget a little bit better, and figure out if you need any additional food assistance, please reach out to us,” Quintero said.

Captain Ken Chapman with the Salvation Army in Orlando says their doors are also open to help.

“We are being sensitive to those people — government workers who are being affected by this because they have already missed a paycheck, and if anyone comes to our door, we will be able to serve them with whatever resources we have,” Chapman said.

Second Harvest as well as the Salvation Army encourages people impacted by the partial government shutdown in any way to reach out for any assistance with food resources.