The Women, Infants and Children supplemental food program known by the acronym WIC remains in operation in Missouri and is ready to enroll new applicants from people who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The USDA has waived the requirement that applicants meet in person with local health department representatives to be screened for the program. Normal clinic operations that require employees, participants and applicants to physically come into the clinic create an undesirable risk and there are mandatory clinic closures in some areas.

Missouri has requested additional waivers to allow local agencies and retailers to serve participants while limiting exposure and travel. WIC participants may now choose from expanded options in a variety of food categories to help address WIC product shortages that have occurred because of food distribution issues. WIC participants may substitute Jif, Skippy and Peter Pan peanut butters in the same size; substitute medium eggs if large eggs are not available; and purchase quarts and gallons of the same variety of milk to total the number of gallons on their checks.

Visit the website at health.mo.gov/coronavirus for more information.