EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) — Millions of people depending on SNAP food benefits are back in limbo this weekend after a late-night ruling by the Supreme Court. Now, local food banks are coming to the rescue.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused a lower court’s ruling that required the Trump administration to fully fund the program for the month in a late-night order.

The pause will give the administration more time to appeal the order.

A Supreme Court justice temporarily paused a lower court’s ruling requiring the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP for the month of November by the end of the day Friday.

At least 5 million SNAP recipients in California have already received their November benefits, but others are still waiting.

One by one, hundreds of cars stopped by a drive-thru food distribution event at the San Gabriel Valley Airport on Saturday morning.

“Frozen chicken, as well as canned fruits, vegetables. I saw yogurt,” said Victoria Lasavach with the L.A. Regional Food Bank about the items available at the event.

“I heard about this drive-thru and said, ‘I’m coming down here to stock some extra food in my fridge so I can make ends meet, you know, put food in the tummy,'” said Jaime Bernal from El Monte.

Putting food on the table is a huge concern for nearly 40 million Americans across the country who rely on SNAP benefits amid the disruption in funding for the program.

“It’s a lot of stress. It’s bad,” said Erika Alvarez from El Monte. “Everybody’s struggling, not just myself. There’s a lot of single moms out there with kids.”

On Saturday morning, the L.A. Regional Food Bank, in partnership with L.A. County and District 1 Supervisor Hilda Solis, held a massive food distribution event in El Monte and another in Pico Rivera.

At the El Monte location, more than 4,000 boxes of food were handed out to families in need.

“We’re coming into the holidays and a lot of people are looking in their pocketbooks and not seeing a lot of money, quite frankly, so this comes in at a very appropriate time for many families,” Solis said.

With the legal battle to fund SNAP benefits still unfolding, millions of Americans are caught in the middle.

“It’s crazy because I checked this morning, and I still don’t have funds, so I don’t know when. Trump’s gotta stop all this,” Alvarez said.

Across town at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, over 1,000 families also received food help on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: End hunger in California: How to help those in need in your community

“People are starving out there. They’re hungry. They are embarrassed. This is a blessing for the community,” said recipient Monica Turney.

Amid all of the uncertainty, Eyewitness News spoke to people who are doing their best to stay positive.

“No matter what happens, you still gotta keep moving forward,” said Henrey Bernal from El Monte.

If you’d like to volunteer or donate, head to LAFoodBank.org.

GET FOOD ASSISTANCE: Where to get food help in Southern California with SNAP benefits on the line

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