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WIC Success Stories
Real stories from Minnesota WIC participants.
On this page:
WIC gives moms a boost for a healthier pregnancy.
WIC helps college students.
WIC helps families grow up healthy.
WIC helps young families get ahead.
WIC helps working families.
WIC helps military families.
WIC gives moms a boost for a healthier pregnancy.
"It has been four years since I first stepped into the WIC office and what a blessing they have been to my family! When I first applied for WIC, I was pregnant with my first child. I was working as a preschool teacher and my husband was finishing up graduate school, making us a one-income family. Our grocery budget was very tight so the food vouchers were a huge blessing to us! Because of the vouchers, I was able to eat good portions of protein, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and a variety of whole-grains. I have been part of the WIC program throughout my three pregnancies. The nutrition that WIC offers, I believe, really helped me have a healthy pregnancy each time. And now, I have three beautiful children who are continuing to grow and thrive through the WIC program!" - WIC Participant
WIC helps college students.
"My daughter and I started on WIC when she was 7 months old and my husband quit his job to go back to school. I exclusively breastfed her for the first year of her life while working full time, so from WIC we were able to receive healthy foods for both of us. The help with purchasing groceries has really helped us out as we are on one income while my husband is back in school. My husband is able to focus on school and spend time with our daughter instead of trying to work, go to school, and spend time with us. He had a 4.0 GPA after his first semester and we are all able to benefit from the WIC program." – WIC Participant
WIC helps families grow up healthy.
"I first heard about WIC from a friend who had just delivered her second child. I didn't know what WIC was at the time, but I was pregnant with our second child and we lived on a 1.5 working household budget. Because of our limited income there were many times that our grocery budget had to be stretched. When I initially signed up to meet with the WIC representatives I was really nervous. Did I look like I made too much money, would I qualify for benefits, would grocery shopping with vouchers be frustrating and shameful? The WIC representatives gave me several options for financial verification and worked with me to collect everything I would need for my first visit. That was 5 years ago now and we've had three children grow through the WIC system. I've visited the Lake Street and downtown Minneapolis WIC locations and now that we live in Richfield I've visited the Bloomington and Richfield locations. All of the WIC representatives have been very supportive and have provided great education through the birth and growth of my three children. Being on WIC has lessened the financial strain on our family and I've been able to tell new mothers about the program. We love the Farmer's Market vouchers in the summer and the addition of yogurt to the dairy list. Sometimes, being a new parent on a small budget is so overwhelming and I think WIC does a wonderful job of making sure all parents are provided with the resources they need to succeed" – Former WIC Participant
WIC helps young families get ahead.
"WIC helped supply my family with healthy foods and connected us to vaccination services my family and I needed to stay in school and succeed while my mom was having a hard time paying for those expensive needs. Because of that support to start my life off right, I'm in graduate school, and on the road to change the lives of other women and children who just need a hand of support when life's needs are challenging. Thanks, WIC" – Former WIC Participant
WIC helps working families.
I have worked for 27 years for an organization that partners with WIC. Before I worked here, I too, was a WIC client. I didn’t have health insurance, so I used WIC appointments to have my daughter weighed and ask any questions regarding her health and growing process. It was very reassuring and the WIC staff were always so kind and knowledgeable. I was asked to give a success story at my 25th anniversary. I had my daughter, who was also a recipient of WIC, tell it from her side. She is now a successful pharmacist, and attributes a lot of her success from the good early start she had with WIC!
She says, “The CAP (Community Action Partnership) Agency has been a big part of my life, from WIC to Head Start, to numerous volunteer opportunities as I grew up, both physically and mentally. The impact of CAP all started within first few days of my life in the hospital, my mom and I were visited by someone from WIC letting us know about the nutrition and food guidance that WIC had to offer. Because my dad was an immigrant to the country, and had a job that paid minimum wage, making ends meet was difficult. I know that these healthy eating habits that were established early on in life still influence me, from healthy cereal options to fruits and vegetables to drinking milk with every meal.” – Former WIC Participant
WIC helps military families and students.
In 2004, my husband was fresh off of his 5 year commitment as an Army Officer, and back in grad school full time. A friend from the Army said I needed to get WIC. I didn't think it was for people like us. …
Turns out it was one of the best decisions I made! I was able to exclusively breastfeed while receiving WIC too! Thank you WIC for your amazing support! – Former WIC Participant