WIC Success Stories

Please read below about how WIC has helped two families. Names have been withheld for confidentiality reasons.

Dear WIC:

I first came into contact with WIC in the fall of 1991. I was 36, newly married and pregnant with a child that I had been told I would never have. I was plenty scared. I had graduated in the top 10% of my class, completed a year of college and had owned my own business. I was proof the "it" can happen to anyone.

My pregnancy was classified high risk because of my age, my Rh factor and being gestational diabetic.

The staff at our local WIC office was such a blessing. All of you were very supportive during my pregnancy. The nurses and nutritionists answered all of my questions without making me feel the least bit uncomfortable. Everyone was also very supportive when I chose to breast feed. Formula had never really been an option for me. I wanted only the best for my baby.

When I had a miscarriage in January before my daughter turned one in May, the nurses were there for me with facts and figures on miscarriage. They gave me answers when I needed them most.

When my daughter was diagnosed with a bladder reflux at age one year, the staff were there to help me cope until she got an all clear one year later.

I was 38 when I became pregnant with my last child. My friends at WIC were there to share my joy and to answer all my concerns.

The foodstuffs available through WIC were very helpful but the staff support was priceless. If the staff at WIC was able to do so much for my children and for me, how much more their help must mean to the young girls and women from less fortunate and less educated backgrounds than I came from.

My "baby" will be five years old in March. I could have done it without WIC, but I am absolutely certain that my children are much healthier because I did it WITH WIC. I pray that you will always be there as a special insurance policy for all the babies and their mothers that will be born in Macon County in the next twenty-five years.

Thank you for being there for us.

Sincerely,

GMB

Please continue reading for another real life success story.

Dear WIC:

My name is Sharon and I have been on WIC for six years. I have three children ages 18 months, four years, and six years old. I am married but our income came solely from my husband.

I have to admit when I first began the WIC program I didn't know much about it. All I knew was it was free food and long hours sitting at the office for appointments.

As I look back at all the things I have learned from WIC it amazes me. The nutritionists have taught me how to better my family by the foods we eat. The nurses taught me the importance of keeping my children's immunizations up to date. Most importantly, the new breast feeding support group helped greatly with my last baby.

I took the training course to become a peer counselor for other breast feeding mothers. I learned a great deal about breast feeding that was helpful to me. Being a peer counselor got me out of the house and helped me to meet people. I made new friends and improved my life.

As a result of my peer counseling I was informed of a job at Baby Love. I applied for the job and was hired. I worked part time for about a month and a half before a full time position opened up. I applied for the position and was hired on full time. I may not qualify for WIC the next time I have to be reinstated but I have learned many helpful things and made some great friends.

I am thankful for all that WIC has helped me with in the last six years. It is a great program and beneficial to many low income families. I hope WIC continues to help the people who need it. I wish them a Happy Anniversary.

Sincerely,