ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A national program is celebrating a milestone anniversary. For Michigan, it got its start in the U.P.
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) program.
“Escanaba was the first WIC program in the whole state of Michigan,” said Carrie Polley, WIC Coordinator for Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties. “Escanaba was the first one to apply for this federal grant were awarded it. I just think it’s super exciting to be on the map for something positive like WIC.”
Created to help low-income families obtain healthy foods for their children, the program initially offered fortified milk, juice, and infant foods. Five decades later, it has grown to be so much more.
“We see around 1,100 clients that are enrolled into our WIC program,” Polley said. “We also provide breastfeeding support for families. We provide support referrals for mothers that are pregnant as well.”
Clients can also have one-on-one visits with a registered nurse.
“When the child comes here for an appointment, they’ll get weighed and measured,” said Polley. “We’ll also do bloodwork to check their hemoglobin and lead. We can also refer them to a registered dietician for free.”
The WIC office is a kid-friendly environment, designed to be a welcoming place for families.
“We hope they feel comfortable, that they can ask any questions they want to our nurses,” said Polley. “We like them to come with a positive experience and leave with more information than they had before they came.”
Polley says WIC aims to equip every client with the resources they need to keep themselves and their children happy and healthy.
“WIC is one of the most important programs in this community,” she said. “Some people think, ‘Oh I make too much money for WIC,’ when in actuality, they would qualify. It’s worth calling, because it helps save a lot of money in food costs when they’re going to the grocery store.”
Click here to see eligibility requirements for the WIC program. To learn more about how WIC could help your family and the nearest office to you, visit michigan.gov/wic. Visit phdm.org for more information on the Delta & Menominee WIC program.
