OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Some relief is coming for local food banks days before SNAP benefits are set to be cut off.

Gov. Bob Ferguson announced on Thursday that he’s directing over $2 million per week to support Washington food banks during the government shutdown.

“President Trump and Congressional Republicans have shut down the federal government,” Gov. Ferguson said. “As a result, Washingtonians are going to lose access to federal SNAP benefits.”

It comes as federal funding for SNAP benefits is expected to be suspended starting on Nov. 1 due to the ongoing shutdown.

KGMI previously reported that Washington has joined 24 other states in suing the Department of Agriculture, claiming that it’s choosing not to use billions of dollars in contingency funds to keep SNAP going.

Ferguson says the funding will be available to food banks starting on Nov. 3 and will continue weekly until SNAP funding is restored.

Bellingham Food Bank Executive Director Mike Cohen says he expects the organization to receive about $75,000 per week, but still says they’re facing an uphill battle.

“Just to put into perspective, it’s great, I am super appreciative of it, but food stamp families are losing about $1 million a week in purchasing power with the suspension of food stamps,” Cohen told MBN. “So food banks are receiving about $75,000 to try to help curb the loss of about a million dollars in purchasing power.”

The food bank says it’s started to double its weekly food spending budget in an effort to support those affected by SNAP’s looming suspension.

Nearly 1 million people across the state rely on SNAP benefits, including over 11% of residents in Whatcom County.