Volunteers load food into cars at the Food Bank of Delaware’s mobile food pantry in Georgetown, Delaware. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)

Delaware will issue its March SNAP benefits on March 5 – earlier than usual for some recipients – due to the disruption caused by the government shutdown. To avoid losing SNAP funds during the shutdown, all states distributed February’s benefits on Jan. 20. Moving up the March distribution date (which for some recipients was as late as March 23) makes it less likely families will run out of food during the wait.