Washington families who rely on nutrition assistance programs to keep food on the table can breathe a brief sigh of relief knowing the aid is secure, at least for another few weeks.
As the federal government shutdown continues into its second week, the Washington State Department of Health announced it has secured funding to maintain Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program benefits through the end of October.
The funding comes at a crucial time, as WADOH officials warned last week that a government shutdown could cause the WIC program to shut down after two weeks.
The secured October funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will go toward sustaining the 10-person Washington WIC team and food benefits for eligible participants.
According to DOH, over 145,000 women, infants and children in Washington benefit from WIC each month through the program’s access to health screenings, nutrient-rich foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and other critical resources.
“Amid ongoing uncertainty following the federal government shutdown, DOH remains committed to supporting the people of Washington who rely on WIC to meet their nutritional needs and our employees,” said DOH in a statement.
For more information on WIC in Washington, visit www.doh.wa.gov.
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