— from Hilary Canty —
Many young families will be getting an extra boost this summer, thanks to the Orcas Farmers Market, Orcas Island Community Foundation, the Washington State Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, and Orcas Family Connections.
This collaboration of resources and efforts will provide eligible WIC families with up to $40 of farm fresh foods from the Orcas Farmers Market. These market dollars are in addition to the monthly nutritional assistance WIC provides to insure there are healthy foods on family tables.
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program works to improve lifelong health and nutrition for pregnant women, breast feeding woman, and children under the age of five. Eligibility depends on household size and income. Occasionally over the summer months, WIC can provide Farmers Market Checks in addition to families’ monthly checks.
This year, more Orcas families qualified for these seasonal checks than WIC is able to fund. Thanks to a grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation every WIC family gets to participate in this win-win-win collaborative effort to strengthen the health and well-being of our young families.
For more information, or to see if your family can participate, please call Health & Community Services at 378-4474.
Once again I am impressed with this island community I now call home, and with Hilary Canty for leading such an incredible effort. Thank you Hilary for all the amazing work you do to help all of us lead healthier, happier lives here on Orcas.