When Jessica (name changed) came to one of Catholic Charities’ grocery centers, she had no coats for her children. One of our fellow Catholic Charities teams was onsite that day hosting a pop-up event. Jessica, and what must have been 60 or so other people, left not only with groceries, but also with coats, socks, underwear and diapers — basic items every child needs to thrive. It’s estimated that one in two babies born in the U.S. today benefit from the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This program’s purpose is to help economically challenged pregnant women and moms with infants and children under age 5 get the quality food they and their families need. Supporting moms like Jessica is at the heart of what we do at the Catholic Charities WIC Grocery Centers every day. We serve moms and families from all walks of life, including those who have lived in Chicago for generations, as well as those who may have recently arrived. How well we take care of moms, infants and children determines what’s going to happen in the future. Our goal is to help families improve their lives and well-being. We achieve this by opening access to resources, services and support that will prevent future health problems, alleviate daily stress and build strong foundations for future generations. When Catholic Charities started this ministry in 1993, we had just four WIC grocery centers. We now have 14 WIC grocery centers across Chicago. Over 59,000 caregivers and children received benefits at one of these centers in fiscal year 2023. It’s about creating a supportive environment that enables families to thrive and children to reach their full potential. Yes, these food centers provide nutritious groceries. But they also do so much more. They are a hub for mothers and families. They are both in the community and they help build community in neighborhoods where people often face barriers that can make it difficult to access basic things they need, like quality food to help their babies grow. At our WIC grocery centers, moms are welcomed with one-on-one attention. They learn which fruits, vegetables, cereals and other healthy products are available to help them take care of themselves and their children. We understand the challenges they face, see their unmet needs and connect them with resources to gain more stability in their lives. We wrap them with support they may not know how to find, which is critical — and is only possible thanks to our generous Catholic Charities partners. For example, we offer nutrition education programs that engage clients in monthly topics with nutrition information they can take home, food demonstrations and tastings with recipe cards. We have mental health therapists onsite at some WIC grocery center locations. We also offer a range of services, including prenatal and postpartum doulas, parenting classes, childcare and developmental resources. During the tax season, one of our partner agencies provides tax assistance. We are always looking to innovate in how we support our moms and families. I take pride in being on the WIC team at Catholic Charities and serving alongside people who have been here since the program started in 1993. Our mission, and the mission of service to others, brings me to work every day. This is a faith-filled ministry, and there is joy in the daily encounters we have with moms and families. Every day moms come through our doors looking to do what’s best for their children. Nourishing their families is good for the body — and good for the soul. I invite you to join us in supporting the next generation by making a gift to Catholic Charities today. We can only do this work with moms and families through the partnership of generous people like you.
About the Author Shivonnia Dickson is vice president for Women, Infants and Children, WIC Access-Operations, for Catholic Charities.