JCHD WIC Program Hosts First of Three Project Fresh Activities

Members of the Smiles on Wheels organization have a little fun with a child during the Women, Infants, and Children Project Fresh event outside of the Jackson County Health Department building on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV News.

By Jeff Steers
JTV News

(July 27, 2022 7:45 PM) Those participating in the WIC Project Fresh event at the Jackson County Health Department had a few bonus activities to visit on Wednesday.

Some dentistry, hearing and vision, and animals were all involved in the first of three Project Fresh events. 

The event featured WIC organization employees signing up eligible applicants for Project Fresh booklets – with $25 worth of vouchers that can be used at several local farmer’s markets. 

“We have more than 4,500 WIC clients in Jackson so it is a first-come, first-served situation,” WIC assistant coordinator Tracy Lackey said. “Hopefully those in attendance will be able to see all the local support in the area and how to spend the $25 (vouchers) through local vendors.”

Ives Gardens on Ann Arbor Road and Grand River Farmer’s Market are two of the locations applicants can use the vouchers for fruit or vegetables. 

But those in attendance also had a chance to use the vouchers on Wednesday at a tent set up for Curtis Farms of Napoleon, talk to Jackson County Health Department advocates, discuss programs through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, have a little fun with members of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, discuss dental assessments with Smiles on Wheels, talk to Community Action Agency about their programs, and take a minute to discover animals at the Imagine Planet tent.

Lackey said she expects all of those organizations back on Aug. 3 plus a “few more.”

The Aug. 3 WIC Project Fresh event will also include a Latch Breastfeeding class to be held in private inside the JCHD building. August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  

The Project Fresh event will be from 2 to 6 p.m. 

A third Project Fresh initiative will be held Aug. 10 from 10 to 3 p.m. 

For more information, contact the Jackson County WIC office at 541-774-8203 or go to www. jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/Public-Health/WIC.