Apply for WIC assistance in-person and online

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare are reminding families that WIC services are fully back to in-person appointments while still offering an online application option. The program provides eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five with nutrition education and free healthy foods, including milk, formula, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, juice, and whole grains.

Officials say the Illinois WIC EBT card, or eWIC, makes benefits easier to use, with one card per household and benefits reloaded every three months after check-ins. Expanded hours are available.

The Health Department is reminding families about WIC and case management services designed to support healthy pregnancies, babies, children, and families. The WIC Supplemental Food Program provides nutrition education and supplemental foods for residents who meet nutrition and income guidelines. Eligible clients may receive items such as milk, formula, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, juice, whole grain breads, and tortillas.

For details or to apply, call the Health Department at 309-852-5272 in Kewanee or 792-4011 in Colona. Applications are also available at henrystarkhealth.com. You can submit an application at https://www.henrystarkhealth.com/FormCenter/WIC-10/. More information on WIC is available at fns.usda.gov/wic. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Heather Aldred, RN, Maternal and Child Health Services Supervisor with the Health Department, states, “Henry, Stark, Marshall and Putnam County residents have fully returned to only in-person “Face to Face” appointments and services delivery. We do, however, still offer an online application feature to the program. We are thrilled to once again have the chance to offer these important and vital family services directly to our participants. In addition, we remind those who may be interested in taking advantage of all that WIC offers, that the Illinois WIC EBT Card is available to all WIC participants! This makes WIC Services even more easy for area families to use.”

Aldred adds, “All current WIC participants and households are now issued just one Illinois WIC EBT Card with all the food benefits on this one card; no more handling multiple checks for different members of your family. The WIC process remains the same, benefits are reloaded on your card every three months after contacting and checking in with our WIC Staff.”