State: Food stamps, WIC at highest level ever in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Human Services says more Illinoisans than ever are getting help from the government to buy food.

Officials say the number of households getting food stamps has reached a record 592,390. That's an increase of 3.7 over last year. The households include 1.3 million people.

Officials say 296,000 families are enrolled in the Women, Infant and Children services program, also known as WIC. That program covers pregnant women, new mothers and young children.

IDHS Secretary Carol Adams says more families are going to food pantries for help. She says the state recently gave an additional 1.5 million pounds of supplies to food banks that would cover 37,500 families.