OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A key federal food assistance program just got extended in Washington as the government shutdown enters its third week.

The state Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that it’s received a new round of funding to support the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that the program was expected to quickly run dry due to the shutdown and recently got extended through the end of the month.

But after this latest announcement, the state will continue to offer WIC benefits through mid-to-late November.

WIC offers healthy food and a collection of other support services for pregnant people, new parents, infants and children under the age of 5.

According to the DOH, nearly 5,000 Whatcom County residents received support from the program last year.