Mountain State Times

The West Virginia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has announced a collaboration with WIC programs in Rhode Island and Connecticut to enhance equitable access to online shopping options for participants across the three states.

This joint effort has been selected as one of five projects to receive funding from the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact, facilitated through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS). The project aims to modernize the shopping experience for WIC participants via a Planning Project that will identify WIC-authorized vendors to participate in a curbside pickup model.

“We are overjoyed to be a part of this initiative to meet the needs of families not just here in West Virginia, but also in Rhode Island and Connecticut,” shared Heidi Staats, Director of the Office of Nutrition Services. “We are always looking for ways to better serve those who utilize our programs, and I can think of no better way to do so than by bridging gaps in food access.”

Each state plans to conduct surveys with their local WIC-authorized vendors to gauge their interest in pursuing an online shopping project and understand their needs during that transition if they decide to proceed. Additionally, project teams will hold listening sessions with partners and subject matter experts to determine program participants’ needs, wants, and shopping habits to create comprehensive offerings. Upon completion of their project, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Connecticut will develop an implementation plan detailing budget information, project timeline, contract drafts, and subsequent phases.

Rhode Island will serve as the lead WIC State agency for this project. For more information and project status updates, visit WIC Link: Bridging Food Access through Online Innovation — WICShop+ (wicshopplus.org).