Helping Them Grow: WIC offers nutrition help to local families

Note: This story appears in the April 19 newspaper on Page A1.

This is the second story in a multi-part series highlighting two major Vinton County Health Department programs: Help Me Grow and WIC. The first part dealt with Help Me Grow, a home-based parenting program. This week focuses on WIC, a nutritional benefit program offered to local qualifying families.

There are many ways the Women, Infants and Children program helps local families and kids. The biggest purpose, though, is centered around nutrition.

When it comes to a child's health, nutrition is an essential key. WIC is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through the Vinton County Health Department, devoted toward providing healthy food options to low-income families, among other benefits.

The program is geared toward pregnant women; those breastfeeding or have a child less than 6 months old; and families with children up to 5 years old. There are specific income guidelines, though families already on Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as "food stamps") or Medicaid qualify for WIC as well.

Families are given a food card worth $50 per month to buy approved healthy foods: among them are cereal, grains, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, milk, juices and grains.

Another emphasis for WIC is breastfeeding, which the program calls "the optimal method of infant feeding." The Vinton County Health Department employs breastfeeding counselors who work individually with mothers to offer support.

There are other services offered through WIC related to postpartum depression, childhood obesity and meal recipes.

"We really go above and beyond for these families," said Paula Grunkemeyer, Vinton County's WIC director.

WIC serves hundreds of total participants throughout Vinton County, Grunkemeyer said, though the number has gone down slightly in recent years because of the local "food desert." The county has been without a full-service grocery store since 2013.

That will change this fall, with the new Campbell's Market under construction in McArthur. Grunkemeyer said the new store will be a positive development for WIC families in Vinton County, providing easier access to healthy foods.

For more information on WIC, call the health department at 740-596-4171. The department's website, www.vintonohhealth.org, also has details and income eligibility guidelines.