PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
November 2, 2012

Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Department of Health Updates WIC Clients on Available Services

Most of New Jersey's 35 local Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics are open for pregnant women and mothers in need of vouchers for baby formula and food. A list of agencies that are open or closed due to Hurricane Sandy is available on the WIC webpage of the New Jersey Department of Health.

"While a majority of WIC clinics are open in New Jersey, clients should call their local agency first to ensure they are able to provide services. If a local WIC office is closed, clients can access their benefits at another WIC agency," said Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd.

Telephone numbers for local WIC agencies are available on the Department's WIC webpage and through Department's Family Health Hotline at 1-800-328-3838, which is open 24 hours a day.

WIC food vouchers that have been destroyed or lost in the disaster will be replaced once the agency has verified that the original vouchers had not already been redeemed. Disaster-related evacuees who seek WIC benefits will receive expedited certification processing as special nutritional risk applicants.

Due to significant power outages, some stores may have shortages of perishable food items and some supplies.  Vouchers cannot be re-used once they are redeemed so if a retail store does not have all of the items authorized on the voucher, clients cannot later redeem the remaining items.

Clients having difficulty finding a vendor can contact the local WIC agencies listed on the WIC webpage of the New Jersey Department of Health.  Clients having trouble due to vendor and WIC agency closures caused by Hurricane Sandy, can visit www.nj211.org or www.endhungernj.org for an updated list of food pantries and soup kitchens.

Each month, New Jersey's WIC agencies provide vouchers for supplemental nutrition assistance to 172,000 pregnant women, mothers and children up to age 5.

For additional information on shelters, the application process for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and social service is available at http://www.nj211.org/hurricane.cfm.

Additional information about hurricane and flood recovery is available at www.state.nj.us/health/er/natural.shtml.

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Last Reviewed: 11/2/2012