On Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:48:44 -0400, Nancy Young <email@replyto> wrote:

>On 10/2/2011 12:18 PM, Judy Haffner wrote:
>>
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> Here's the thing. They were shoplifting
>>> baby formula. They live in that house on
>>> the block that you get the idea there's
>>> not a lot of money.
>>
>> That is very sad, and I know the feeling you have of wanting to help
>> them out, as I would be the same way. I don't know about other states,
>> but here in Alaska, there is help for parents who have a baby, and don't
>> have much money. No baby has to go without formula, etc.
>
>Really, they can't take care of themselves.
>
>> When our one granddaughter and her husband had a baby 2 years ago, he
>> was attending classes at the local University and doing janitorial work
>> after school, and she was home, taking care of the baby, but they were
>> allowed to get formula, and later, they got baby food, when she was
>> eating. They have the WICK (not sure if I spelled it right?) program,
>> that provides milk, cheese, cereal, etc. when the baby is a little
>> older, so no child has to go hungry, and this is all free. This family
>> should look into something like that, and see if there is such a program
>> there.
>
>There is. I see it's accepted at the farmer's market, too, so
>it must supply a variety of foods.

WIC (Women, Infants, Children) is a federal program, but administered
individually by states. If you can let these state folks know that
such a program exists, it might help them. It is not like welfare or
even like SNAP (food stamps) and a bit easier to qualify for and
obtain. Still, there are some hoops, as with any program, and it can
always be complicated to find out info and apply, especially if funds
for transportation are short and there is an infant around.

About half the kids under 5 in this country are on WIC. It usually
works with vouchers that are turned in at the market. Eligible
formulas and foods at each age level are determined by each state.

Boron