Waiting a few days to grocery shop can help moms and babies in need in Pierce County
Pierce County residents can help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic by waiting a few days to grocery shop at the start of the month and by trying to avoid buying items that have “WIC” shelf tags.
“The nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC) serves about half of all infants born in the United States,” Pierce County said via Twitter Thursday. “Because many WIC benefits come to low-income families at the first of the month, many of their benefits were depleted more quickly because kids are at home.”
WIC shoppers can’t substitute items “and would have to go without,” the county said.
Washington’s WIC program serves more than 27,000 in Pierce County, and more women and children get health care, prenatal care and immunizations because of it, according to the WIC Coalition of Pierce County.
The program provides foods such as fresh produce, whole grain bread, high-iron cereals, milk and baby food.
“By providing WIC services we also save health care dollars,” the Coalition’s website says. “It is estimated that for every dollar spent on a pregnant woman it saves over $3.50 in federal, state, local and private health care costs.”
