Thirteen WIC Food Centers to Close Across State

Thirteen food centers across the state of Mississippi that serve low-income mothers and children will be closing.

This is due to preparations the state is taking to revamp these centers to allow participants to use electronic cards to purchase supplies at grocery stores and pharmacies instead.

In the meantime, participants will still be able to access benefits at centers elsewhere in the state. There are at least 80 food centers in Mississippi, the Commercial Dispatch reported.

The state announced plans to transition to electronic benefits transfer cards late last year, and that process will begin in January 2021 at the earliest. The eWIC card system will be more convenient to use and allow participants to access food at easy locations, like stores, instead of having to pick up at warehouses, officials said.

According to officials, while the 13 centers are closed, the Department of Health is working to ensure participants have an accessible food center within 30 miles of each WIC clinic.