A program that stocks the pantries of more than 3,000 South
County families has been spared.
Gilroy – A program that stocks the pantries of more than 3,000 South County families has been spared.
Months ago, county public health officials proposed closing Gilroy’s Women, Infants and Children office, among the many cuts intended to reduce the county’s $238 million deficit.
Clients and staff were devastated by the proposal, citing the program’s effectiveness in reducing obesity, anemia and malnutrition.
“It would be disastrous for these people,” said Sam Abed, owner of the Women in Care Nutrition shop that exchanges WIC vouchers for healthy staples such as cereal, apple juice, beans and bread, when news of the proposed cut broke in late March. “The closest office will be in San Jose – and who will go there?”
But unexpected funding from phone fees helped save the Gilroy program and dozens of others threatened by the cuts, reducing the county’s target reduction by nearly $30 million, from $146 million to $118 million.
“We’re not going to have any interruptions in WIC services in South County,” said Evelyn Caceres-Chu, a Nutrition and Wellness program manager who oversees WIC county-wide. “We’re still open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and one Saturday a month.”
Anyone interested in the Gilroy WIC program may call toll-free: 847-0454.
