Serving over 15,000 participants throughout Merced and Mariposa Counties.
Services + Eligibility
WIC helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, stay healthy and be active. WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition tips, breastfeeding support, health care referrals and community information. WIC now offers the WIC Card, allowing participants to get the WIC food they want when they want it. WIC also has the California WIC app, making shopping and finding local WIC vendors easy! The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Women, Infants, and Children Program, commonly known as WIC, is a supplemental nutrition program for:
Infants
Children under 5
Pregnant women
New mothers
WIC monthly benefits provide food from all groups:
Fruits & Veggies: Cash Value Benefit and 100% juice (to all participants at least one year of age or older)
Formula can be provided for infants if not breastfeeding
Nutrition education is provided at every appointment by Nutrition Assistants, Degreed Nutritionists and Registered Dietitians. Common topics include but are not limited to:
Baby & Toddler behavior and how it relates to picky eating
Infant Feeding
Low iron/anemia
Pregnancy & Postpartum Nutrition
Gestational Diabetes
Need breastfeeding support? WIC can help! All of our staff have been trained to help you with breastfeeding. We also have peer counselors and International Breastfeeding Certified Lactation Counselors (IBCLCs) on staff to help. We can also help you obtain a breast pump and provide you with information regarding worksite breastfeeding requirements.
WIC also provides community referrals for:
Mental & Physical Health
Housing
Child Care
Parenting Skills
Immigration Services
Employment
Clothes/Diapers
More – just ask!
To qualify for WIC, you must meet income guidelines and you must be one of any of the categories below:
A pregnant woman
A woman breastfeeding a baby under the age of 1
A woman who had a baby or was pregnant in the past 6 months
Infants and children between the ages of 0-5
In addition, the family must:
Have income below 185% of the federal poverty level OR
Be on CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or CalWORKs (adjunctively eligible)
Be a California resident
*Working families and migrant families are welcome to apply. Immigration status has no effect on eligibility.
Bringing locally-grown goods to WIC participants in need. With a Farmer's Market voucher, residents can purchase a variety of veggies, fruits, and even nuts! Call for vouchers, or ask at your WIC appointment.
