330,000+ Wisconsin families received November FoodShare money, but there's still confusion as Trump admin. appeals order

CUDAHY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Thousands of Wisconsin families received food stamp payments overnight Friday, ending a delay as the ongoing federal government shut down paused food assistance payments nationwide.

Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Payments (SNAP) payments in full to states for November.

Hours later, Gov. Tony Evers said his administration moved to pay those benefits to Wisconsin SNAP families, who are paid through the state's FoodShare program. A spokesperson for the governor's office said those payments amounted to $104.4 million that went to 337,

The state Department of Health Services (DHS) said payments hit FoodShare members' accounts at midnight Friday. Still, there was uncertainty after the Trump administration appealed Thursday's ruling.

CBS 58 left messages with White House communications staff Friday; they have yet to respond.

A total of $104,416,432.13 in funding was issued for 337,137 Wisconsin households, according to the Evers administration. A spokesperson for the governor's office said those payments have not been affected because no court has granted an emergency stay of the decision.

At the Project Concern of Cudahy food pantry, there was still a steady stream of people coming and going Friday. Multiple FoodShare recipients said they did get notification their EBT accounts received a deposit.

"I was watching the news at, like, 6,7 am this morning," Joshua Knight of Cudahy said. "And I seen that some people got their food stamps, so I called my food stamp card, and it says my money's on there

Knight added he and his elderly mother had put together a list of food pantries they could visit throughout November if they had to go without FoodShare benefits.

"It makes a tremendous difference," he said. "We were not knowing what to do for about 25 days [remaining in November.] We were gonna hit different churches."

Eriana Nieves-Rivera said she was at the pantry earlier in the week to take food, but on Friday, she came to give. She said she received a message on her phone through the EBT app Thursday night notifying her of an upcoming deposit.

"I was donating some coats and some snowpants that don't fit my kids anymore," she said. "So, they help me, I try to help them out, as well."

The pantry's director, Patrick Higgins, said it was getting harder to keep the shelves fully stocked in recent weeks. Traffic had surged in October as the government shutdown continued, and word spread November's SNAP payments would be delayed.

"We were at about 415 families each month that were coming in, say, through September," Higgins said. "Now, we're looking at 500 to 600 families a month."

The Trump administration's decision to appeal the ruling drew criticism from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. At ribbon cutting for a new south side soccer field Friday, Johnson said the city would continue the food drive it launched with Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Brewers and the Bucks. 

Milwaukee County Board supervisors on Thursday approve giving $150,000 in contingency funds to the 231,000 FoodShare recipients in the county. Johnson said the federal government needed to do its part.

"It's disheartening that the president who says he's America First won't even make sure children get fed first," Johnson said. "That's troubling to me."

Higgins said he was still bothered by the shutdown since he still worries a delay in December payments will further strain the food pantry. Those who received FoodShare payments Friday were simply relieved to have help buying groceries.

"It means the most," Nieves-Rivera said. "I was running low on food. I couldn't come to the food pantry. I was actually just here Wednesday for my kids, so it helps."