The Missouri Women, Infants and Children program will again extend its cash value benefits for fruits and vegetable purchases until September.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services administers the program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The extension started Thursday. DHSS has issued several extensions of the program throughout the past three years, according to Lisa Cox, DHSS director of communications. It last issued an extension in September (to extend to January).
New amounts will be $25 per month for child participants, $44 per month for pregnant and postpartum participants and $49 per month for breastfeeding participants. Previous fruit and vegetable values ranged from $9-11. WIC is the DHSS Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
Eligible participants need to contact their local WIC agency to schedule an appointment to load the additional benefits on their eWIC card before redeeming any January benefits. Participants who redeem any January benefits before receiving the increase will not receive the increase until February.
Missouri WIC provides additional healthy fruits and vegetables for up to 60,000 women and children per month. WIC families have the opportunity to shop for nutritious foods at approximately 600 authorized retailers throughout Missouri and can receive services at any of the 115 local agencies. WIC serves financially eligible women, infants and children under the age of five. Fathers, stepparents, foster parents, grandparents and guardians are also encouraged to apply for WIC benefits for any children in the household under the age of five.
Missouri WIC provides quality nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods and referrals to health services. It is also one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country.
Missourians interested in learning about the benefits of WIC may visit wic.mo.gov or call TEL-LINK at 1-800-835-5465 to find the WIC local agency closest to them.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Nondiscrimination and complaint information can be found on our website at wic.mo.gov.