For many new mothers, putting food on the table isn’t just a daily worry, it’s a matter of survival.
About 240,500 people in the DMV depend on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, but the government shutdown threatens to delay those benefits.
The program is a lifeline against food insecurity, as witnessed during the pandemic.
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“We saw that these programs were actually very effective at curbing hunger and food insecurity because Congress acted in a bipartisan way to support families and their food needs,” said Sakeenah Shabazz, Deputy Director of Bread for the World Institute. “We need that same kind of action now.”
When Thandi Farrow first became a mother, she quickly realized she would need help. Her daughter, who is now an adult, had dietary needs at birth that required expensive, specialized formula.
“The WIC program was essential because she had a specific diet, and without it, I don’t know what I would have done,” said Farrow. “I would have been absolutely in the poor house.”
Some states announced they were considering switching to priority enrollment for the program.
However, this week the White House said it plans to use tariff revenue to keep WIC afloat during the shutdown. , however, said families need “long-term stability, not short-term uncertainty.”
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The program not only provides families with healthy foods and baby formula but also offers health screenings at clinics throughout the area.
Despite funding concerns, local organizations are encouraging families to continue using their benefits.
“There is still funding for our benefits for WIC, so please still utilize benefits as you normally do. Continue to utilize your cash value benefit, which is a benefit families can use to purchase fresh produce,” said LaMonika Jones, the Director of State Initiatives for the Food Research and Action Center.
If WIC is delayed or limited, support organizations said emergency food operators like food banks can help fill the gaps, but said they also need assistance from the federal government.
“We need Congress to work together to reopen the government and to make sure that program access remains as it’s supposed to for people who are eligible, and to make sure that people can eat the nutritious food they need access to,” Shabazz said.