COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, more commonly known as WIC, promotes healthy births and early child development by providing food packages and access to certain groceries among other services.
The South Carolina Department of Health, who manages the state’s WIC program said that in May of 2024, their WIC team served 100,500 people, a number not seen since March of 2017.
State WIC director Berry Kelly attributes this increase in service to new digital tools that allow the program to serve more people.
"We’ve developed an online application, where participants can go on their smart device and upload documents. We also developed a cool mobile app, where the participants can find out where the stores are located across the state,” Kelly said.
Kelly added, the new mobile app also comes in handy while searching for WIC approved food items.
"They (WIC participants) can scan a food item's UPC barcode and can determine whether that food is WIC approved or not,” Kelly explained.
The South Carolina WIC app also includes the location of partner clinics and additional resources for WIC participants.
WIC is a program for pregnant women, new and breastfeeding mothers and children under five. Caregivers for children under five, as well as foster teens who are pregnant may also qualify for WIC assistance. All WIC participants must meet income eligibility guidelines.
Over the past five years, the average number of monthly WIC participants has increased from 81,539 South Carolinians in 2020, to just shy of 99,000 in the most recent fiscal year.
One reason for this could be the rise in unemployment across the state.
Over the past year, unemployment across South Carolina has ticked up from 2.75% in June of 2023 to just over 3.5% in June of this year.
For the 11 counties that make up the Midlands, the average unemployment rate is 5.2%, with Orangeburg County experiencing the highest rate at 7%.
Kelly said he believes additional factors may also have led to the increase in WIC participation.
"I think it’s a combination of many factors. One, just the convenience of the technology now I think has been a major factor. And the amazing team that we have. We have dedicated professionals that are here to serve our clients,” Kelly said.
For more information on the South Carolina WIC program, visit their web page, or call 1-855-472-3432.