WIC finds new home

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By Dan King
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Whitehall will now be hosted in the Rec Center.
After the Skenesborough Rescue Squad announced intentions to not renew the contract with WIC, much was made about finding a new home for the program. Churches and some community organizations rose to the forefront, but ultimately the Rec Center was deemed the ideal location.
“WIC is usually done with the building by 3 p.m. and most of the year the Rec Center isn’t even open until 4 p.m.,” Town Supervisor George Armstrong said.
The program, which is held one Tuesday per month, helps care for 150 families in Whitehall. WIC supplies medical advice to these families, as well as WIC checks for food purchases.
“Often these are kids having kids.” Armstrong added, “We have an obligation, especially to these children to do all that we can do.”
The program will also bring in $900 of revenue directly to the Rec Center, officials said.
Washington County WIC Coordinator Marge Irwin was appreciative of the Rescue Squad’s dedication over the years.
“The WIC program has enjoyed a nice collaborative relationship with the Rescue Squad for the past 14 years and have appreciated their long term partnership and support.” Irwin said, “Times has brought changes to both our organizations and was no longer mutually convenient to co-locate our services. We appreciate the many years of support and hospitality we received from the Skenesborough Rescue Squad.”
Irwin went on to explain her excitement moving forward.
“We look forward to working with both the town of Whitehall and the Whitehall Rec Center to provide the important services of the WIC program to foster healthy mother, babies and families in the Whitehall area,” Irwin said.
The first WIC program in the Rec Center will be on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Irwin encouraged anyone with questions about the change or interest in receiving the services to call the WIC office at 746-2460.