The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently highlighted its effort to help low-income mothers feed their children with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The program, established in 1974 to help feed children at risk of malnutrition, provides services to more than half of U.S. infants, a WIC fact sheet on the USDA website said. Assistance during the pandemic has continued with added safety measures to ensure the safety of participants.
“USDA thanks all our devoted partners for their efforts to maximize the reach and impact of WIC, while helping America build back better,” Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long said in a USDA press release. “Their dedication has made an impact for participants throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know they’ll continue to make a meaningful difference in years to come.”
Examples of WIC’s continued service during the pandemic include a drive-thru farmers market in Staunton, Virginia, providing safe delivery of food to rural participants, the release said.
“The setup enabled safe social distancing, where vendors placed food directly into the trunk or backseat and helped keep WIC benefit redemption high,” Long said in the release.
In addition to food provisions, WIC also provides education on nutrition and breastfeeding, the release said, including a mobile clinic for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe that provides “breastfeeding information, handouts & brochures, food & snacks, and more.”
WIC will continue to provide safe delivery of its services during the pandemic, with 99% of its agencies conducting remote certification appointments, the release said.
