WAs food aid program for infants and mothers now funded through most of November

The U. S. Department of Agriculture has provided funding to continue food benefits for Washington's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through mid-to-late November amid the ongoing government shutdown. Nicole Flateboe, executive director of Nutrition First, highlighted the relief this funding brings, allowing benefits to last through Thanksgiving. However, officials caution that increased enrollment could lead to an earlier depletion of resources.

When the shutdown began on October 1, the state had just two weeks of funding available for WIC. The program serves over 212,000 women and children in Washington, helping nearly one-third of all newborns access healthy food and nutrition education. Earlier this month, King County and Seattle officials promised one-time food vouchers for nearly 30,000 enrollees if funding runs out. Despite the new funding, some clinics, like the Spokane Regional Health District, have issued layoff notices due to reimbursement uncertainties. Flateboe stated that the state Department of Health is revising contracts to ensure clinics receive necessary reimbursements.