
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 25, 1993                   TAG: 9308250146
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

FOOD, EDUCATION FOR THOSE IN NEED

The federally funded Women, Infants and Children supplemental food program - better known as WIC - will be able to serve an additional 10,000 Virginians this year, the New River Health District reports.

The district includes Montgomery, Pulaski, Floyd and Giles counties plus the city of Radford. The program, begun in 1972, provides high-quality nutritional care to women who are pregnant or nursing or who are new mothers, and to infants and children up to age 5.

The goal of WIC is to encourage normal birth, growth and development of youngsters determined to be at-risk for impaired physical or mental growth because of an inadequate diet.

Milk, cheese, eggs, beans, juice, cereal and peanut butter are among the supplemental foods the program provides. Participants get vouchers which may be redeemed at the grocery store for qualifying foods. WIC also requires participants to get nutrition education.

Eligibility for the program is determined by income, health and nutritional history. For information, call your health department:

Montgomery County: 382-6154

Pulaski County: 980-1490

Radford: 831-5774

Giles County: 921-2891

Floyd County: 745-2141

by CNB