Families who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — or WIC — had trouble finding eligible items on store shelves last month.
Now, there's a social media push to give those families the first crack at those items at the start of April.
Marvin Hightower is president of the Peoria NAACP. His organization joined the call for shoppers to leave WIC-eligible items on the shelf through April 3, if they don't use the program themselves.
"If they can purchase afterwards, I think we should,” he said. “Those that have to purchase in these first two or three days need to be able to have the ability and have those things available to them."
Hightower said because of how quickly the COVID-19 crisis escalated in March, many families didn't have a chance to stock up on items covered by their WIC benefits before accessing groceries became a major challenge.
He said panic over the shelter in place order led many shoppers to purchase large quantities of basics like milk and eggs, leaving little left for people who rely on WIC or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP or food stamps.
"I think it's important that those who are in those programs are able to get what they need so that they can sustain the next month ... this extended [shelter in place order] in a better way,” he said.
Most stores label which foods are SNAP and WIC eligible on the shelves by the product barcode. Hightower encourages shoppers to be more cognizant of those labels and choose a different product, if they’re able.
We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.
Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU. 9(MDIwMjIxMDA0MDE0Mzk4NDIzNjA0OGQ5Yg001))
