New Albany is last WIC food center closing until eWIC card is piloted

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is closing the New Albany WIC Food Center. The last day for participants to pick up food packages is Nov. 25.

The food center was originally scheduled to close Sept. 30 due to the lease expiring, but the landlord approved an extension which is now ending. Participants may continue to pick up WIC food items after Nov. 25 at other food centers throughout the state. The closest food centers are located in Pontotoc and Tippah counties.

This will be the last WIC Food Center to close until the eWIC card is piloted which is scheduled to begin rollout in late January 2021. As the WIC program prepares to begin the transition from the use of paper food vouchers at food centers to a retail food system via an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card at grocery stores and pharmacies, it’s also working hard to ensure participants still have access to the supplemental foods they qualify for.

The goal of the WIC program is to provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support and supplemental food for eligible pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to the age of 5. The MSDH WIC program is working to ensure participants have an available food center within 30 miles of each WIC clinic.

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