We keep finding more of the very dangerous direct impacts from the government shutdown but here's an update on one that hits close to home: 

Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program announced that there are no additional federal funds available to continue the program during the shutdown, some states, like Washington, have some funds available to continue operations in the short-term.

Washington state has been authorized to use these reserve program funds to continue providing WIC benefits to clients in our state. Here is what they know specific to Spokane County at this time:

-They have sufficient funding to support just over nine days of operations.

-They can pay for any WIC checks sent to the bank during that time.

-WIC clients with checks for the month of October are now being encouraged to use the checks at their local grocery store before Oct 10, 2013.

WIC provides families with nutrition as well as healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and whole grains. 

Keep checking, www.spokanewic.org, and they will pass information along as it becomes available. 

---

---