SC extends WIC funding through end of October

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) âone space€one space” Recipients of a supplemental food program are getting a few more weeks of help thanks to South Carolina’s health department. On Friday, the Department of Health and Environmental Control told its more than 122,000 clients that it would continue to back the federally funded Women, Infant and Children program through the end of October. WIC helps pregnant women and mothers buy healthy food. Director Catherine Templeton says DHEC is using savings to make sure the program stays funded during the federal government shutdown. Templeton says she may have to furlough the agency’s 3,500 employees to come up with money to keep WIC going if the federal government doesn’t reimburse the state for its costs during the shutdown. Earlier this week, DHEC said it would maintain the program until Oct. 15.