Department of Health Announces Closure of All WIC Food Sites

The state department of health announced Thursday that it will permanently close all 81 of the Women, Infant, and Child Food Distribution Centers in the coming months.

Due to a federal mandate, WIC users across the nation are being transferred over to electronic banking and a debit card for benefits and food purchases, which is part of the reason of the state’s closures.

With the new electronic WIC card, clients will have an expanded list of items and will be provided with more convenience.

Approximately 85,000 Mississippians are enrolled in the program, and the new card rollout will take a few months. With the closures of the WIC sites, an estimated 70 employees will be eliminated.