As the government shut down continues past the one month mark, there's growing concern over a potential lapse in SNAP benefits.

To fill in the gap, local organizations are coming up with a game plan.

"Our United Way called together all of our agencies that we partner with throughout the year and we had a really big meeting today kind of to see where we all fit and how can we help everyone, not kind of jumping all over each other and really helping in the best way possible," Roxanne Sebest, United Way vice president said. "We fund about 40 non profits in the community, from YNDC, the Mobile Market run by Flying High, Catholic Charities, MYCAP, Direction Home which really serves the seniors, we're working with funders as well like the Wean Foundation, Community Foundation and the Youngstown Foundation. They're all at the table to see how we can try and come together," she said.

It all starts with assessing what resources are already available verses what's needed.

"We're really taking an inventory of all the food pantries that are out there and we've talked to places like Second Harvest and Catholic Charities to really see how they're ramping up to be prepared for this," Sebest said. "We have the list of all the pantries that we know of and we work closely with 211, so the Help Network, they have the list as well so we have those readily available," she said.

United Way also works closely with every school in Mahoning County to make sure students are fed.

"We're going to be probably distributing directly through the schools going through guidance counselors and administrators that know which families are on the SNAP benefits and which families are going to be struggling through this situation," Sebest said. "For the adults and the seniors, we're working with Direction Home and seeing if seniors are home bound. We do have something called Saturday of Caring where it's every third Saturday that we deliver food so if that needs to be increased...but those referrals are coming to us and we're working closely with those agencies that know of those individuals that need that type of help so we're really trying to help everyone," she said.

Also coming down the pipeline, an executive order from Governor Mike DeWine who will soon direct "...the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to give $7 million to various Ohio food banks and up to $18 million in emergency relief benefits to more than 63,000 Ohioans – including more than 57,000 children – who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level."

Sebest said the non profit community has been mobilized and are ready to roll if they need to jump in and lend a hand. To find a list of food pantries and other resources, click here.