Announcement from the Henderson County Department of Public Health:
Hendersonville, NC (May 6, 2020). The Henderson County Health Department invites families who have been impacted by COVID-19 to consider applying for benefits through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.
WIC is supporting many newly eligible families due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Layoffs, reduced hours and pay cuts due to COVID-19 might mean tighter budgets for some families and a change in income could make them eligible for food benefits.
WIC is a federal food program through the Department of Agriculture, which aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Studies have shown that WIC is effective in reducing premature births, increase consumption of key nutrients, improve diet quality, and reduce the incidence of low-iron anemia.
The program is available to pregnant women, postpartum mothers, infants and children up to age five. There are also options for children in foster care, adoptive parents, and grandparents caring for young children. The food list has recently expanded to meet the needs of families. The list includes healthy foods, infant formula, breastfeeding advice and infant foods and includes organic options. These items promote a healthy outcome for pregnant mothers and children’s growth.
“Some people think they are taking away from others if they use WIC services but that is not the case,” explained Lori Bradley, BS, IBCLC, RLC, CLC, WIC and Nutrition Director, for the Henderson County Health Department. “We are here to help families in need. So please access our services!”
Bradley shared that, unlike other food assistance programs, WIC income guidelines are fairly liberal, adding, “you do not have to be eligible for Medicaid or SNAP. For example, a family of four can qualify with an income up to $47,638.”
At the present time, there is no waiting list. The Henderson County WIC Program is only conducting business over the phone, but services are being offered Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm. For more information, please contact the Henderson County WIC Program at 692-4223, Option 5.
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