Bag of foodThe Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services is urging eligible parents to apply for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program as a way to improve their families’ health and nutrition.

WIC provides support to families to help make ends meet while buying healthy foods for their family – choices that can ensure that babies, children, and their families have the nutrition they need to learn and grow.

The Buncombe County WIC office gives parents easy-to-understand information on meal-planning and nutrition so that parents who participate in the program know what healthy foods to buy, and it provides vouchers for healthy food to pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, and for children under the age of five.

Staff can assist with decisions about what types of foods to feed their babies and answer questions about their child’s diet and eating habits. Healthy food items are provided to pregnant mothers and young children, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and foods rich in protein.

WIC staff also help teach mothers the basics of breastfeeding, an important part of the WIC Program. Infant formula is provided for women who are unable to breastfeed.

“There are many families in Buncombe County that may qualify for WIC services and don’t realize that they do,” says Sarah Bennett, Nutrition Program Manager. “The nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthy foods that WIC provides give children a healthy start in life, which is so important for their future development.”

A family of four with a total annual income of $44,863 or less, and a single mother with one child and annual income of $29,471 or less qualifies for the program. The program currently serves about 5,387 participants in Buncombe County every month.

Applying is easy. An eligible parent needs to come into the office only once every three months for services and to receive food vouchers. Appointment times are generally less than an hour. To make an appointment, call (828) 250-5000.

To learn more about WIC, visit www.buncombecounty.org/wic or www.nutritionnc.com/wic. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.