Kentucky Public Radio spoke with food banks across the state bracing for a surge in clients ahead of the Nov. 1 suspension of federal food assistance.

Volunteers rushed to unload sliced meats, cheeses, fresh produce and hefty bags of potatoes before opening the doors of the Sister Visitor Center food bank in Louisville on Thursday.

The Catholic Charities associated pantry served 22,000 people last year. On the drizzly Thursday morning, clients are already wrapping around the building, waiting for the 10 a.m. opening — days ahead of a fiscal cliff suspending food assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

Angel, who declined to give her last name, waited outside the grocery store-like pantry ahead of opening. She’s only been twice before, using it to bolster the funds she gets through SNAP. But on Thursday, Angel was loading up. She found out a couple days ago about the benefits lapse and said she’s trying to think ahead.

“I’m not gonna be able to buy food this month, so I’m going to have to depend on food pantries,” she said. “Everyone’s gonna be dependent on them and this is the worst time of year to do it.”