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You’ve likely seen a viral message on social media in the last few weeks asking you to hold off on going to the grocery store to help those who depend on government benefits. But is there anything to the request made by celebrities, including Kerry Washington?

When stocking up for #SocialDistancing...If you see something labeled “WIC” please chose another brand. People who rely on WIC products to feed their kids cannot. We’re all in this together pic.twitter.com/3OwhR650m4 — kerry washington (@kerrywashington) March 16, 2020

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) providing federal grants to states for supplemental foods, along with health care referrals and nutrition education, which are marked in the grocery store for those who depend on the benefits to identify.

At any other time, the supply of WIC-specific brands isn’t generally an issue. But as stories of panic buying spread, many are grabbing whatever items are left on the shelf. As a result, those who depend on those particular brands are seeing dwindling supplies.

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Former first lady Michelle Obama boosted Washington’s message to her 14.8 million followers, adding that those who can afford to should especially avoid WIC products in the first few days of the month.

.@KerryWashington is right. The first few days of each month are crucial for families that depend on WIC products. Let’s look out for each other by taking the extra few seconds to look at those labels. Every act of kindness counts. ❤️ https://t.co/C1Eq6NmXfv — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 3, 2020

The first day of the month is when government benefits are reloaded into some participants' accounts, so those who have depleted their previous month's resources are likely waiting until the beginning of the next month to make trips to the grocery store.

However, other states distribute WIC and SNAP benefits at different times of the month. In Texas, SNAP benefits are staggered over the first 15 days of the month, while in Iowa they are distributed over the first 10 days of the month. Some states have also adapted their guidelines during the pandemic. You can find out more about your state’s program on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

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