The Brief
- The federal shutdown threatens food and formula access for nearly 30,000 WIC participants in King County.
- Public Health – Seattle & King County will issue one-time vouchers through Safeway to provide temporary relief.
- Vouchers, funded locally, will be available by early November and expire at the end of 2025.
SEATTLE – Leaders in King County have announced plans to plug the gaps on benefits to tens of thousands of Washingtonians amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Nearly 30,000 participants in King County’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program may soon face a shortage of essential food and infant formula due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to a Monday statement from county officials.
One-time WIC voucher partnership announced
Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) announced plans to issue one-time vouchers to current WIC clients through a partnership with Safeway, should the shutdown continue.
The emergency response aims to provide temporary relief to families who rely on WIC benefits, which are at risk of running out of funding within the next two weeks.…