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As part of a Statewide rollout, Tompkins County launched eWIC in October 2018. As an electronic benefits transfer card or debit card, eWIC eliminates paper checks and provides a more convenient way for families in the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) to shop for WIC foods. The new eWIC technology also allows families to roll over any unused benefits from a shopping trip toward future purchases during the same month.

Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director states, "We are excited to bring this vital benefits program online for Tompkins County families. We hope eWIC will make the shopping experience easier and more accessible for families."

In addition to eWIC, the NYS Department of Health launched a new mobile application called WIC2Go to make shopping for WIC foods easier. WIC2Go allows users to scan the barcode on a product to see if it is WIC-approved. Users can also check their WIC account balance, view their upcoming WIC appointments, and locate WIC stores and clinics.

WIC offers nutritious foods, education on nutrition, advice for healthy living, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals to eligible families with young children, and women who are pregnant. Registered dietitians are on staff at WIC to give one-on-one nutrition advice. There are 11 approved WIC vendors in Tompkins County. Tompkins County WIC serves more than 1100 women, infants, and children each month with services provided at 4 sites throughout the County:

Salvation Army (150 N Albany St, Ithaca) Newfield United Methodist Church (227 Main St., Newfield) Jacksonville Community United Methodist Church (1869 Trumansburg Rd., Jacksonville) Tompkins County Health Department (55 Brown Rd., Ithaca) Fathers, grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers may also apply for WIC benefits for their infants and young children. Many working families qualify and individuals who are already enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP or TANF automatically meet the income qualifications for WIC.

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