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In the midst of a federal government shutdown that has left many families in need, St. Louis County has initiated a drive to collect baby formula, diapers, and wipes. Announced by County Executive Dr. Sam Page and Director of the Department of Public Health Dr. Kanika Cunningham, the campaign aims to support those impacted by the interruption of federal assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP. The St. Louis County's announcement also highlighted partnerships with the St. Louis County Library, with reports noting, "We know that many families in our community rely on federal programs to feed and care for their children,” Dr. Page explained. The shutdown has directly affected some 11,233 WIC recipients in Saint Louis County, where the Department of Public Health attends to 5,000 of these individuals, and the county as a whole has the highest number of SNAP beneficiaries in Missouri with 47,459 households relying on such benefits as of September 2025. Residents of the county are encouraged to join the effort by dropping off donations at any St. Louis County Library branch or one of three designated health centers. The health centers include John C. Murphy Health Center, North Central Community Health Center, and South County Health Center, which are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For those preferring to contribute online, Amazon and Target wish lists have been set up for direct delivery to the Department of Public Health. "This shutdown is putting real pressure on families who were already struggling," Dr. Cunningham conveyed in the county's statement. To mitigate the issue, the county is ensuring that contributions, such as infant and child care essentials, reach those in need by November 17. Kristen Sorth, the library director, affirmed their commitment by saying, “St. Louis County Library and Saint Louis County have a proven track record when it comes to supporting families. We are happy to partner with them once again to collect formula, diapers and wipes at all of our branches to support our neighbors,” as per the St. Louis County's announcement.
