Marlisa, who is pregnant with her first child, works at a daycare near the WIC Grocery Mobile Market clinic at Sinai Community Institute. She visited the WIC Grocery Mobile Market on a break from work to pick up healthy foods that will give her the iron, vitamins, and calcium she needs for a healthy pregnancy.
The weather that Wednesday morning was bitterly cold in a way only early spring can be. But that didn’t matter to Marlisa, who had run out to pick up some fresh produce, eggs, and a carton of milk. It took her all of five minutes and she was able to use her WIC benefits to purchase everything.
This was because Marlisa was shopping at Catholic Charities’ new WIC Grocery Mobile Market parked outside Sinai Community Institute’s WIC clinic, which she and thousands of other mothers and children visit to enroll in what is widely considered one of the nation’s most successful and effective nutrition programs.
The WIC Grocery Mobile Market promotes healthy growth and development
Since 1974, the USDA’s WIC program (short for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), has helped moms, babies, and children under five access healthy and fresh food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
Extensive studies show WIC participation is associated with healthier pregnancies, improved growth and cognitive development and lasting positive changes to household diets.
To enroll, participants visit a clinic like the one at Sinai, where they undergo a health assessment. “We want to identify and address nutritional deficiencies early to prevent chronic problems later in childhood,” says Kimberly Howard-Shores, Director of Family Services at Sinai.
Participants are then prescribed a food “package” aligned to their nutritional needs and receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer card (similar to a debit card) loaded with vouchers for the items in their package. This can be used anywhere WIC is accepted, including at WIC Grocery, Catholic Charities’ network of specialty grocery stores that exclusively serve people shopping with WIC.
WIC Grocery is both a store and hub for moms. Stores are often co-located with other Catholic Charities programs and WIC clinics. In addition to food, there’s nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and access to other Catholic Charities services that support families, including pregnancy, parenting, and doula programs.
Going beyond brick-and-mortar stores on Chicago’s west side with the WIC Grocery Mobile Market
Catholic Charities operated a WIC Grocery in the Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago’s west side for several decades. When safety concerns in the surrounding area led to a significant drop in shopper visits, the difficult decision was made to close the location.
While the idea to launch a mobile WIC Grocery store had been under consideration for a while, the Garfield Park store closure gave the initiative more urgency.
“Because there are so few grocery options on Chicago’s west side, finding new ways to help families procure fresh and healthy food was very important to us,” says Shivonnia Dickson, Vice President for Empowering Mothers.
“Catholic Charities is committed to supporting families by offering resources that help them thrive. WIC Grocery is one way we do this,” Dickson adds. “While traditional brick and mortar WIC Grocery stores have been successful for many years, we felt the need for a more innovative approach to serve this community.”
Meeting families where they are
When program leaders held focus groups with WIC participants to gauge the viability of a mobile store, the response was overwhelmingly positive. They felt a traveling store would make shopping more convenient and safe, plus it would help them use all their benefits. This is because it can be difficult to find the products WIC food packages allow for at smaller neighborhood and dollar stores, which are often the only retail outlets in communities with low food access.
Community partners key to success
Before the WIC Grocery Mobile Market launched in late January, Catholic Charities established partnerships with complementary community organizations on the west side that are also committed to promoting food security for mothers and children. These include Sinai Community Institute, health clinics, day care centers, and food banks. The Mobile Market makes scheduled visits to their sites, sometimes several times a month.
“Witnessing moms shop on the Mobile Market — redeeming their WIC benefits and accessing nutritious food — has been a source of deep personal and professional fulfillment for me,” Dickson says. “Being a mom when you’re fighting to make ends meet is hard. We’re here to help.”
To learn more about the WIC Grocery Mobile Market and view the schedule, please visit their website.