The Federal Government has shut down. However, the Capital Area Food Bank is open for business.
We are diligently working with our partners to ensure that healthy and nutritious food, and other important resources continue to get to the 500,000 people in the Washington metro area who are suffering from hunger.
During a shutdown the government temporarily stops all non-essential services including unemployment benefits, veteran services; National Parks and Smithsonian Museums are closed and federal loans are not being processed.
Nutrition Programs in a Shutdown
What does the shutdown mean to the Nutrition Programs?
Not all programs will be affected in the same manner. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will continue for FY 2014 because of the mandated Federal Statutory Authority will allow for funding.
However, the Woman Infants and Children (WIC) program does not have the same statutory authority as the SNAP program. Thus each state will have to decide what measures they will use to support the WIC program during a shutdown. Some states may have the funds and legal authority to continue WIC benefits during a shutdown.
National School Lunch Program
The National School Lunch Program should be able to continue operating throughout the Month of October because schools are reimbursed 30 days after the end of the service month.
The government shutdown is not a major issue for the Capital Area Food Bank. We will continue our services at a high level.