WIC
WIC is a federally-funded, special supplemental nutrition and breastfeeding program for eligible Women, Infants, and Children. This program was designed to help improve the health and nutritional status of women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or recently had a baby, infants, and children up until their 5th birthday. Learn more about WIC and what to expect by watching this 6-minute video (YouTube)!
What WIC Offers
Healthy Foods: WIC provides monthly benefits for families to choose healthy foods at the grocery store, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and wholesome cereals, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Breastfeeding Support: from our lactation-trained WIC staff and through our WIC Peer Breastfeeding Support Program.
Nutrition Education: WIC staff work with families to identify any health or nutrition concerns and provide education to support each family in making healthy choices.
Referrals: Assistance connecting with a health care provider, applying for income-eligible insurance benefits, , enrollment in our FREE Family Home Visiting Program, immunization clinics and MORE!
WIC Foods
WIC issues each participating household a WIC benefit card. After the WIC appointment, WIC staff load the card with eligible food benefits to use when purchasing WIC-allowed foods at participating WIC- Vendor grocery stores. You can view the MN WIC Shopping Guide for details on WIC foods.
Qualifying for WIC
If you or a family member are currently participating in any of the following programs you could be eligible for the WIC program:
- Medical Assistance
- Medical Assistance-TEFRA
- SNAP (Food Stamps)
- MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
- Fuel Assistance
- Reduced or Free School Lunches
- Head Start
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-if someone in your family is receiving SSI or MA-TEFRA, the person receiving these benefits is adjunctively eligible for the WIC program
Your family may also qualify for WIC based on your household size and gross income (before taxes are taken out).
Apply
To apply for WIC in Carlton County you can call us at:
- 218-878-2853
- 1-888-818-4511
Or apply online at the MN WIC Apply for WIC site. Visit the Minnesota WIC website and click on “Am I eligible for WIC?”, to see if your income qualifies.
Need help finding additional food resources?
- Food Help for Families MN WIC has a food resource page that provides information on additional food support programs across the state.
- Cloquet Salvation Army Food Shelf 316 Carlton Avenue, Cloquet
- Mondays 4:30-6:00 p.m. & Tuesdays 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 218-879-1693
- Family Pathways Food Shelf
314 Main St, Sandstone (Across from the park)- Tuesday through Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-noon. 320-245-2485
- Moose Lake Food Shelf
308 Elm Avenue, Moose Lake (Access through the alley - basement of Joe Jitters)- Fridays 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Tri-Community Food Shelf
5597 E Hwy 210, Cromwell The Old Trolley Station Store (Junction of Highways 210 and 73, Cromwell)- Every Friday 3:00-5:00 p.m., except for holidays & the Friday after Thanksgiving, weather permitting. 218-426-4067
- Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry Program – Carlton County, MN 615-12thStreet Cloquet (Our Savior’s Lutheran Church)
- Third Thursday of the month from 10:30-11:30 a.m. 218-336-2312 - Call for other locations and times.
- Ruby’s Pantry (www.rubyspantry.org)
Pop-Up Pantry Online Preregistration (not required) or call 651-674-0009
$25 contribution + $2 online processing fee The preregistration window closes at 3 p.m. the day before the distribution- Cromwell Park Pavilion- Ruby’s Pantry Pop-up5577 Cromwell Park Dr, Cromwell
- 2nd Thursday of the month Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Food bundles available 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
- Check out Ruby's Pantry-Find a Location or email info@rubyspantry.org for additional sites near you.
- Cromwell Park Pavilion- Ruby’s Pantry Pop-up5577 Cromwell Park Dr, Cromwell