As the federal government shutdown rolls into its second month, questions mount for people relying on a range of federally-funded benefits.

Connecticut lawmakers are negotiating the parameters of a bill to set aside as much as $500 million to help households relying on various assistance programs and subsidies.

“Right now, my number one priority on a timely basis is taking care of people who were hit and hit hard by this shutdown,” Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Connecticut) said during a press conference at Hands on Hartford.

There’s bipartisan support for a response to several concerns over federal funding, including:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is paying for half the monthly benefits in November, leaving questions about when those payments will come and what might happen if the shutdown continues into December.
• The shutdown continues as Democrats and Republicans disagree over the future of subsidies for people who buy health insurance through Affordable Care Act exchanges.
• And stats have not received money from the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, because Congress has not approved a spending plan.

Democratic and Republican leaders have said the goal is to put money aside in case federal funding for specific benefits are cut or frozen.

The intent is to make sure benefits continue through early February, when lawmakers return to the capitol. There is debate about whether the money should come from the Rainy Day Fund or a surplus within the existing budget.

Either way, lawmakers said they want to help families relying on programs like SNAP.

“I think we should have started figuring it out two weeks ago because there were some people who were optimistic,” Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said. “I just don’t see the shutdown ending anytime soon.”

That could include making sure households receive their full benefit and setting aside money in case the shutdown drags on and the USDA fails to fund the program again in December.

Lamont said Monday that Connecticut could copy what states like Vermont, Virginia and Utah have done, putting money onto the EBT cards SNAP beneficiaries already have.

“It was a bouncing ball there for a while, we have a pretty good idea now,” he said. “We will be able to use the EBT card. We can potentially do cash on that if this thing goes a lot longer.”

The state did give $3 million to Foodshare last week, helping the organization purchase six million additional meals.

Those meals will be distributed over the next two weeks through Foodshare’s existing network, starting Monday.

Janet Bermudez, executive director of Hands on Hartford, said families coming to her pantry are looking everywhere they can for help after not receiving benefits on Saturday.

“Folks that are not receiving their SNAP benefits are becoming anxious, desperate,” she said, estimating the pantry saw a 20% increase in demand even before Saturday.

She said families, and not just those on SNAP, have been asking for more help as they also pay more for electricity, housing and other costs.

Bermudez said that’s one of the reasons pantries alone can’t make up for the assistance families are losing through SNAP.

“What we’re able to give out is about 40 pounds of groceries, and that, I know, does not feed a family for a month,” she said.

The Bangor High School and Camden Hills High School of Rockport girls soccer team simply can’t avoid each other in the Class A North playoffs.

For the third consecutive season and seventh in 10 years, the two teams will square off for the Class A North championship and a berth in the state championship game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cameron Stadium in Bangor.

Each team has won three of the regional title matchups so far, with Bangor earning a 3-2 win a year ago and a 2-1 victory two years ago. Bangor went on to win the state championship last fall with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Scarborough.

They also met in the semifinals in 2022 with Camden Hills notching a 3-1 win.

The teams split during the regular season this year with each winning at home. Bangor triumphed 2-1 on Sept. 20 and Camden Hills avenged the loss with a 3-0 victory on Oct. 16.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “It’s going to be a competitive game between two outstanding teams that have quality players who know how to play the game and compete.”

Windjammers coach Meredith Messer shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s going to be a typical Bangor-Camden game,” Messer said. “Both teams are going to have to work hard. It’ll be fairly aggressive and physical.

“My hope is that there will be goals scored. Both of us like to score goals. We’re offensive-minded. It should be fun,” Messer said.

Neither team has been tested so far in the playoffs with the 14-1-1 Rams beating Mt. Blue of Farmington 7-0 and Brunswick 6-0. The 15-1 Camden Hills squad dispatched Messalonskee of Oakland 8-0 and Mt. Ararat of Topsham 6-0.

Camden Hills has scored 93 goals and given up 11 in its 16 games while Bangor has scored 84 and surrendered 8.

Both teams have dynamic, game-changing sophomores who are leading them in goals.

Camden Hills’ Molly Williams has scored 39 goals including eight in the playoffs while Bangor’s Georgie Stephenson has scored 34 goals.

Center midfielder Williams also has 16 assists and striker Stephenson has 10.

Class A North Player of the Year Clara Oldenburg from Bangor has 25 goals and 26 assists from her attacking midfield position. Messer said sophomore Eve Domareki is Camden Hills’ second-leading scorer with over 20 goals and her freshman sister, Liv, is the third-leading scorer.

Kemble said he has received important goals from Gabby Roy and Gabby Gordon in recent games.

Both teams are also solid in the back with Avery Clark, Sophia Chase and Jo Jo Clukey supplying the Rams with a lot of experience while Camden Hills’ back line features Lucy Ward and Maia Andrews.

Junior Emily Caulkins will start in goal for Bangor with freshman Eliza Gallant in goal for Camden Hills.

There is a lot of mutual respect between the two teams and coaches.

“Camden Hills has a centerpiece with Molly Williams. They have other kids in the middle that surround her. Defensively, they’re a lot like us. They play with four backs that rotate. They can get both (wingbacks) up-field and they have center backs who are strong and athletic. We are a lot alike in terms of skillset and style of play. Whoever makes the fewest errors is probably going to win,” said Kemble.

“Bangor is a really smart team and a great passing team,” said Messer. “They hold their space incredibly well and they are strong. When you look at them, they are physically stronger than most of the other teams. That gives them an advantage with speed and with holding the ball.

“And Georgie is a scorer and any time you have a team that has a legitimate scorer, that’s always tougher to stop. Kids who love to score find a way to score,” Messer added.