More than 6 million people in the U.S. get benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children, known as WIC. In states with fewer WIC stores, the impact is most pronounced in rural areas.
Bianca Williams was tired of trying to find a store that either accepted federal food benefits for low-income mothers and their children or a store that had quality produce.
So the Milwaukee resident — who has seven kids, including two currently being breastfed — decided in November that she’d rather turn to frozen Thanksgiving leftovers and food from family and friends.
More than 6 million people in the U.S. get benefits from the
WIC programs have been making a slow transition from paper vouchers to electronic benefits, known as eWIC. It’s easier for shoppers, but stores had to spend money on upgrading cash registers, which in Georgia caused some to quit the program.
Michael Gay, who owns Food Fresh, the only grocery store in rural Claxton, Georgia, said eWIC is “very time-consuming at the register” to parse out which items are eligible. Despite that and other frustrations, he has stuck with the program because, “I want you to have it … I want to sell it, and I want your baby to eat.”
National chains don’t always participate in WIC, either. Aldi doesn’t because it only carries its own brand of formula. Trader Joe’s told The Associated Press in a statement that the majority of its products don’t meet WIC’s brand or size criteria.
About half of Target stores accept WIC, spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said, because there are different sizes and layouts. He said smaller stores might not have enough shelf space to meet minimum stocking requirements.
Ashley Yancey recently tried to find formula for her daughter at a Target about 30 miles from her home in Douglasville, Georgia, and was stunned the location didn’t accept WIC. Often, her nearest WIC vendor is out of the product.
“It’s embarrassing, kinda,” she said about her attempt to use WIC at the Target store. “Because it’s like, are you too good to take WIC? Are you looking at me like I’m poor?”
Yancey doesn’t have a car, and likes the freedom of doing most of her grocery shopping online, where she can use her SNAP benefits; the USDA started piloting online SNAP purchases in 2019 and expanded it during the pandemic.
“It’s harder that I can’t get my milk like that,” she said. “I have to borrow somebody’s car to go look for the milk, just to not find the milk. It is inconvenient that they don’t take WIC online.”
The USDA is reviewing comments on a proposed rule that would remove barriers to online shopping, like not requiring a cashier to be present for WIC transactions. The agency also has paired with the nonprofit Center for Nutrition to pilot online shopping in seven states and with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Major retailers Walmart and Hy-Vee are participating in some places.
“I think the states want to see (online shopping), I think they know it would make a big difference for their participants, and I think retailers are on board, too,” said Ali Hard, the policy director for the National WIC Association, which is an advocacy group and frequent federal partner. “It’s a huge equity issue if WIC participants can’t buy their groceries in the same way everybody else can.”
Olivia Yancey, 11 months old, drinks formula made from non dairy milk Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Douglasville, Ga. More than 6 million people in the U.S. get benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children, commonly known as WIC. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
In states where the number of WIC stores has drastically decreased, officials say the impact is most pronounced in rural areas. Louisiana has lost 68 WIC vendors since 2019, and is working on a recruitment plan for stores.
“We want to focus on more of the rural areas and determine where there might be a store that we can have a conversation with,” Bureau of Nutrition Services Director Jennifer Nicklas said. “Some of it just organically happens when we know we’ve had an existing relationship with the store before … that’s going to really help us to develop where exactly we want to have those conversations.”
In New Hampshire, minimum inventory requirements kept smaller, more rural stores out of the program, said Hailey McAlary with the state Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition, so the state decided those stores no longer have to carry things like juice concentrates and pureed meat for infants.
“I think participation and vendor certification are really connected … food shopping, we all know, has to be convenient,” said Rebecca White, the public and government affairs associate for Hanover Co-Op Food stores in New Hampshire and Vermont. “People will buy foods based on what works with their schedule and their lifestyle.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
