How the Shutdown Affects Food Access

Yes, the US government has shut down, but what does that actually mean for the communities we serve? It may seem abstract for some of us, but for those depending on food assistance like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (or WIC), the shutdown will have dire, real world consequences. This program provides food, nutrition counseling, and other services – it’s now lapsing, and any remaining state funds are perilously low. 

Through our free farmers markets and food distributions across the country, we see firsthand the urgent need for nutritious meals and produce. At our distributions just last week in New York, we witnessed long lines of people waiting for hours. The situation is already terrible, and if we can’t rely on the government to hold up their commitments to our fellow citizens, our work becomes that much more critical.