The Health Department said this morning that the WIC food program has been funded for another month.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided additional funding for the program, according to a social media post by the Health Department. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides provides free, healthy food and personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals to other services and more benefits, according to the USDA website.
“WIC services will continue to operate through November,” the post said.
More than 11,000 people in Columbus County rely on EBT benefits for food, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC. Statewide, more than 700,000 people depend on EBT for groceries.
Health Director Daniel Buck and Social Services Director Duella Hall gave county commissioners an update on the funding freeze at Monday’s meeting. DSS will be required to cover the full salary of local workers who specialize in WIC and SNAP. Those jobs cannot be furloughed, like fully-funded federal workers, so the county will cover the extra expense of paying for those 14 positions.
No announcement has been made regarding funding for food banks, many of which depend on USDA money to operate.
The food programs were frozen due to the federal government shutdown. Federal officials have not confirmed a budget or continuing resolution for the previous budget due to disagreements over foreign aid and government excesses targeted by President Donald Trump for cuts. Democrats are refusing to compromise on nearly $1 trillion in extra funding that includes programs like foreign aid and assistance to illegal immigrants that Republicans and the President see as wasteful spending.
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