WIC is making it easier for clients to pay for groceries

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offices around the county introduced a new form of payment for their clients recently.

On Oct. 17, the WIC nutrition program rolled out its “eWIC” cards, which replaced the checks recipients formerly used to pay for groceries at the register.

“Instead of having to go use the checks – and use the entire check – now they are able to get one gallon of milk, or one loaf of bread, or whatever they need rather than having to spend an entire check at once,” said WIC Supervisor Brandon Boatman.

With the new payment system, recipients can also download an app on their phones listing food items available for purchase throughout the month.

The Maricopa WIC office, located inside the Pinal County Public Health Department Clinic at 41600 W. Smith-Enke Road, helps pregnant and post-partum women, as well as children up to age 5.

Applicants must meet income-based criteria to participate.

“If you qualify for WIC, you also have the ability to see one of our WIC nutritionists and in Maricopa they actually have a registered dietician who sees high-risk clients,” Boatman said.

To learn if you qualify and for more information, call 1-866-960-0633. The local office is open for appointments 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.