The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program that provides low-income nutritionally at-risk pregnant women, postpartum mothers, infants, and children up to 5 years old with nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care. WIC is an important resource during COVID-19. WIC improves participants’ health, dietary intake, and birth and health outcomes. WIC also supports learning and development, reduces food insecurity, and helps to alleviate poverty. In addition, WIC supports economic stability and improves the availability of healthy foods in low-income communities through participating stores. This brief details the change in WIC participation and food costs during the first full year of COVID-19 (March 2020 through February 2021).
Fact Sheet
Congress Must Protect and Strengthen the Federal Food and Nutrition Programs in the End of the Year Spending Package – 2024 Leave Behind