“WIC” could be affected by government shutdown

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - With the government shutdown still underway, thousands of people could lose access to food and supplies.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, is a healthcare program.

It currently helps provide food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to approximately 145,000 clients in Arizona.

If a decision is not reached by November 15, these people would lose access to these benefits.

They say this will not only affect their clients, but the grocery stores where their clients use this money.

"If we don't get additional allocations, not only will families feel it, but our local economy through the grocery stores will also experience challenges," said Celia Nabor, the Assistant Director for Preventio Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

On average, WIC says they give out around $12.5 million a month to their clients.