Public Health Muskegon County W.I.C Program: Saving lives, improving health, and preserving quality of life for Muskegon residents

By Erica Sandford

As impressive as it is that WIC has been successfully making strides towards promoting healthier eating and healthier living for women, infants, and children for over forty years nationally, it’s equally noteworthy that Public Health Muskegon County gives the residents of Muskegon, MI a haven that provides all-access to everything the WIC program has to offer its participants.

WIC is considered one of the nation’s most successful nutrition intervention programs and community members of Muskegon, MI have the privilege of reaping the many benefits WIC offers.

The influential program works to ensure healthy children and reduce infant mortality through prevention of nutritional deficits by offering nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, referrals to service agencies and health care, and provides free goods such as fruits, vegetables, baby food, and much more.

While saving lives and improving the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants, and children is certainly a paramount responsibility, WIC Muskegon County manages to make the experience fun for the whole family. Just a few short months ago in July of this year WIC Muskegon County hosted the Project FRESH Family Fun Day where attendees received free coupons to use at the Muskegon Farmer’s Market upon completion of the “Project FRESH Education” online course. The Project FRESH Family Fun Day featured fun activities for children and provided transportation from the Health Department to the Muskegon Farmer’s Market so that WIC participants had full access to healthy, home-grown foods that enrich every family-favorite recipe.

A series of reports published by United States Department of Agriculture found that WIC plays a significant role in women having longer pregnancies that ultimately reduce the number of premature births and infant deaths. The improvement of infant feeding practices are connected to the great work WIC does in addition to advancements in cognitive development that positively influences school behavior in children of mothers who participated in WIC prenatally.

Although this program almost sounds too resourceful to be true, WIC is indeed thriving right here in the city of Muskegon. You can head over to Michigan.gov to learn more about income guidelines for potential WIC participants and to review the WIC food guide for participants who have questions about what foods are available for purchase.  If you’re not sure what stores in the Muskegon area accept WIC, the WIC Store Locator is a suitable way to receive that information.

Muskegon WIC Main Location

Public Health Muskegon County

209 E. Apple Avenue

Muskegon, MI 49442

(231) 724 – 1391

Walk-In Hours:

Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri – 8:00am to 4:30pm

Tues – 10:00am to 4:30pm