SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The federal government shutdown is stretching far beyond Washington and it’s now being felt at Savannah’s Forsyth Farmers Market.

Interim Executive Director Cherie Trice said the market learned Thursday that its SNAP Doubling Program was being paused.

“It came as a big shock to us because this is one of our core programs which helps provide and improve food access for our community,” Trice said.

The program allows shoppers using SNAP benefits to double their purchasing power at the market making fresh produce more accessible. It’s made possible through Wholesome Wave Georgia, which provides matching funds through the USDA’s GusNIP program.

“For example, if someone comes to the market and charges $25 on their SNAP card, we can provide them with $50 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Trice explained.

Co-founder and board chair Kristin Russell said that doubling makes a big difference for local families.

“I was working the market on Saturday, and we heard from a ton of shoppers who say they rely on this extra doubling to stretch their budgets and get more vegetables into their kids’ diets,” Russell said.

An anonymous donor stepped in over the weekend to temporarily cover the match, but board member and local farmer Angel Ratcliff said the future is still uncertain. Those extra dollars have a big impact, not just for shoppers, but for local growers.

“Especially with me being a small farmer as well, there are a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to thread the needle of expenses and overhead to keep your small farm open,” Ratcliff said.

As a nonprofit, Forsyth Farmers Market leaders say they are working to fill the gap through community donations and fundraising until federal funding resumes.

“If we are unable to double those dollars, we really think that will reduce sales here at the market which means reduced sales to our farmers and reduced economic benefit not only to the farmers but to the city as well,” Trice said.

Market leaders say community support is especially important during this uncertain time. The Forsyth Farmers Market operates every Saturday, year-round, at Forsyth Park.

Donations can be made through the market’s website, and the nonprofit organization is launching a local campaign to bridge the gap soon.