With millions of parents worried about losing access to Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown, empowerment advocate Beverly Dines (@beverlydines) is using her platform to share info about the Free Formula Exchange, a resource that could make a life-saving difference.
In a video posted to her online platforms, Dines addressed a growing crisis among parents struggling to afford baby formula.
“If you are somebody who is struggling to afford baby formula because of the government shutdown, here is one free resource that you can get access to right now,” she said.
Dines, who introduces herself as a Chief Empowerment Officer, explained how the Free Formula Exchange works: it’s a volunteer-run, nationwide network that connects families in need of formula with those who have extra to give.
People Helping People
“This is pure community support,” Dines said. “No money changes hands at all. You don’t need to qualify for anything or prove your income. If you need formula, you just request it. If you have formula to share, you just share it.”
The program, accessible at freeformula.exchange, operates across all 50 U.S. states and is powered entirely by volunteers — parents and donors stepping up to help other parents during a time of uncertainty.
WIC, which supports over 6 million low-income women and children, faces disruption due to the shutdown. Many families rely on WIC vouchers to purchase baby formula, making even short delays potentially devastating.
A Grassroots Solution to a Government Failure
Dines’ video underscores a sobering truth: while lawmakers argue over budgets and political leverage, ordinary citizens are finding ways to fill the gaps. In this case, it’s parents ensuring that no baby goes hungry because of government gridlock.
The Free Formula Exchange has emerged as a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak situation.
The initiative also challenges the notion that help must come from official institutions. As Dines puts it, “This is people helping people.” That simple phrase has resonated deeply in a moment when many Americans feel unseen by those in power.
A Growing Network of Care
Since its founding in 2022, the Free Formula Exchange has become one of the most effective grassroots responses to formula insecurity in the U.S. The network’s decentralized model — connecting donors directly with recipients — allows it to respond faster than traditional aid systems.
Dines encouraged her followers not only to seek help if needed but to give back when possible.
“Hopefully this is another avenue that can not only help you but empower you,” she said.
As the uncertainty over WIC funding continues, resources like this one are becoming vital lifelines.
