SALISBURY — Food and formula voucheres will be discontinued for all WIC participants and for incoming applicants after county health officials said the federal shutdown has impacted the ability to pay for the program.
“Although we can no longer issue food vouchers at this time, WIC staff will continue to provide determination of eligibility for WIC services, nutrition education, and breastfeeding education and support,” County Health Director Barbara Ellis said in a statement Tuesday. “So, we highly encourage clients that are presently on WIC and new applicants to keep their appointments.”
Clients will be placed on a waiting list for food vouchers, Ellis said. Once federal funding is restored, those clients will be issued food vouchers in the order that they were placed on the list.
Health officials said vouchers will be mailed to clients unless they choose to pick them up at the WIC clinic. Clients will also be referred to the local food banks and pantries.
WIC vendors should continue to accept food vouchers that were issued to WIC clients prior to October 9, according to the Nutrition Services Branch at the N.C. Division of Public Health.
For questions or more information, contact the Rowan County Health Department WIC Clinic at 704-216-8777, option 4.