WIC farmers market checks to come out
Clients for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Fayette, Westmoreland, Greene and Washington counties will receive their Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks at their regular appointments during June, July and August.
They can also come to a mass distribution at all sites at Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. (FCCAA), the Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Service sites in Westmoreland County and Community Action Southwest, which serves clients in Greene and Washington counties.
?In Fayette County, distribution will take place from 9?a.m. to 4?p.m. at the following sites:
n Uniontown WIC clinic, located on the second floor of the Family Service Center, 140 N. Beeson Blvd.
n Connellsville WIC clinic, located at the Connellsville Community Center, 201 E. Fairview Ave.
In Greene and Washington counties, hours for the Community Action Southwest sites are 9?a.m. to 3?p.m. at the following locations:
n Washington WIC clinic, located at 150 W. Beau St.
n Waynesburg WIC clinic, located at 1505 Morris St.
n Monongahela WIC clinic, located at 243 A Main St.
In Westmoreland County, distribution will take place from 9:30 to 11:30?a.m. and 1 to 3:30?p.m. at the Mount Pleasant WIC clinic, 599 W. Church St.
Betty Zackal, a registered nurse and FCCAA’s WIC director, said clients from outlying sites within the four-county region can come to these central locations on this special distribution date. No appointments are necessary.
Clients who are unable to come on Thursday will receive their farmers market vouchers at their regular WIC appointments in June. July and August, according to Rosa Snyder-Boyd, Community Action Southwest’s WIC director.
Cathy Moffit, WIC director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Service, said the distribution is only for women and their children and does not include senior citizens who will have their own distribution date.
Postpartum women can receive the farmers market vouchers up to six months after they deliver their babies, Zackal said. The vouchers are also distributed to pregnant women.
Breastfeeding women up to 12 months postpartum are also eligible for the vouchers, Moffit added.
Children who are eligible for the vouchers must turn age 2 by Dec. 31. Snyder-Boyd said 3-year-old and 4-year-old children also qualify for the vouchers. But children must be under age 5 by Dec. 31 to receive the checks.
The purpose of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program is to provide women, infants and children, who are nutritionally at risk, fresh, nutritious unprepared foods, such as fruits and vegetables, from farmers markets and expand the awareness, use and sales at the markets.
Zackal said qualified women are eligible to receive four $5 checks, totaling $20, for the summer season. Children age 2 to WIC-eligible 5 years of age on or before Dec. 31 year also will receive four $5 checks for a total of $20.
Some families can receive as much as $60 to $80 for the vouchers if the mother if pregnant, and she has a few children younger than age 5, according to Zackal.
When the checks are issued, WIC clinics are required to provide nutrition education to recipients, Moffit said. The checks may be redeemed through Nov. 30.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks may only be used to purchase produce grown or that can be grown in Pennsylvania, and farmers may assist them in determining which produce is eligible.
The program list includes the following fruits: apples, apricots, berries, cherries, melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, grapes and plums.
The following vegetables also are included on the list: artichokes, asparagus, beans (fresh), beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins (for eating only), radishes, rhubarb, rutabagas, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, yams and zucchini.
Fresh herbs are allowed if they are used for cooking of flavoring.
The farmers market checks do not include processed food, such as jams, honey, nuts, cider or baked goods.
For more information on the check distribution in Fayette County, call the Uniontown WIC office at 724-437-6050, extension 3211, or the Connellsville WIC office at 724-528-2460.
For more information on Washington and Greene counties, call 1-877-814-0788, extension 440.