Minnesota's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides $2 million for food purchases each week for eligible families, will continue to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the federal shutdown for at least a few more weeks, it was announced Wednesday.
"The USDA has committed to providing additional funding to Minnesota," allowing the state Health Department to maintain the WIC program, said Maggie Diebel, director of the Minnesota department's community and family health division.
WIC aids low-income women and children up to age 5. Families involved with the WIC program, which aims to help recipients meet health and nutritional needs, should continue to redeem vouchers and go to appointments, Diebel said.
Further announcements concerning the program's fate during the shutdown could come next week.
"We'll keep people posted," Diebel said.
Nearly half of the babies born in Minnesota are involved in the program, officials said.
Paul Levy • 612-673-4419
