(Jefferson City, MO) — A supplemental nutrition program for Missouri women, infants, and children will be available next month despite the federal government shutdown. Missouri’s Department of Heath and Senior Services manages the federally funded WIC program in the state.

“One of the ways the department provides oversight of the WIC program is by evaluating the types of foods and services delivered in the program. Prior to the shutdown, the department made changes to some of the items available as a cost-saving measure. Rising food prices and the increased fruit and vegetable cash value benefit have caused WIC’s food costs to outpace our federal appropriation increases,” said Sarah Willson, director of DHSS. “However, these cost-saving measures, implemented at the beginning of Oct

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