Callaway County to continue WIC services

The Callaway County Health Department announced Monday it will continue to provide Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services for the 2023 fiscal year.

The continuance of WIC services comes from a contract between the Callaway County Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

WIC is a supplemental nutrition program aimed at pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to five, according to a release. The program provides healthy food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, health screenings, and breastfeeding promotion and support.

Eligibility for the program is based on nutritional risk and income. Eligible applicants for WIC must have an income of "less than or equal to 185 percent of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk," according to a release. Migrant families are also eligible for the WIC program.

For a family of three to be eligible for WIC, the gross pre-tax annual income must be $42,606 or less. Each additional family member adds $8,732 annually.

The WIC food packages offer foods that are high in protein, iron, calcium and vitamins, according to a release. These foods are obtained by WIC participants through an eWIC card, which can be used for eligible items at local grocery stores.

Stores in Callaway County that support the eWIC card include C&R Supermarket, Walmart, Moser's, Dollar General and Dollar Tree, according to wicprogram.net.

To apply for WIC or to learn more about the program, contact the Callaway County Health Department at 573-642-6881 x102. WIC clinics are also offered at 4950 County Rd. 304 in Fulton from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Monday-Thursday.