LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The E Center Women, Infants and Children Program, or WIC, is taking applications for enrollment from Lake County families.

WIC is a nationwide, federally sponsored program that provides nutrition education, support and help with breastfeeding, community and health care referrals, and supplemental food benefits to eligible pregnant women, new moms, postpartum women, infants and children under the age of 5.

Due to COVID-19, WIC is doing appointments by phone in efforts to keep families and staff safe and healthy.

WIC families also have the option to complete their appointment online at https://www.wichealth.org/, via doxy.me video, or in person as needed.

The program encourages enrollment of migrants and eligible women in the early months of pregnancy. Single fathers, foster parents and guardians of children under age 5 are also eligible to enroll their children.

The food packages include fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, milk, cereal, juice, whole grains, and beans or peanut butter, infant cereal, infant fruits and vegetables, and formula supplementation is available for infants.

WIC has generous income guidelines. For example, a family of four can have a yearly gross income of $55,500 or monthly income of up to $4,625 and still be eligible for the health benefits of the WIC program.

WIC participants can enjoy more fruits and vegetables on WIC, now through Sept. 30.

WIC’s benefits for fruits and vegetable have been temporarily increased to:

• $25 per month for children;
• $44 per month for pregnant and non-breastfeeding participants;
• Up to $49 per month for breastfeeding participants.

WIC families can also combine their fruits and vegetables benefit with WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks for even more purchasing power at farmers markets. The checks are issued in addition to regular WIC benefits and can be used to buy fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from WIC authorized farmers’ markets.

Lake County’s E Center WIC began distributing Farmers Market WIC tickets to participants in May and will begin attending the Lakeport and Kelseyville markets in July 2023.

To enroll in the program, schedule appointments or for more information, call 707-263-5253 or 707-994-1151. WIC’s fax numbers are 707-263-4183 or 707-994-1152. Bilingual staff and lunch-hour appointments are available. Please call ahead for an appointment.

Find out more at https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/.