SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — At the Teddy Bear Den, low-income women and their children can benefit from diapers, baby clothes and formula in exchange for points. One way to earn points is through the Women, Infants, and Children program, also known as WIC.
“We have 1,827 moms and babies that are enrolled in our program. 69% of those are also enrolled in WIC. So, a big portion of our women are also using WIC,” said Loghin Welch, a board member for the Teddy Bear Den.
Large police presence in downtown Sioux Falls
WIC is a government program that gives moms vouchers to buy nutritious food and formula for themselves and their babies. But when the government shut down, funding for WIC stopped immediately. Now, that funding is being pulled from local reserves- at least until it runs out.
“The funding will run out probably right around Thanksgiving, is kind of what’s looking like may happen,” said Welch. “So, there’s a lot of, I think, people who are just nervous as the holidays approach, as it starts to get colder out in our community, they get a little bit more nervous about how they’re going to find the food.”…