Tennessee helps its neighbor in need

When your neighbor needs help, we all need to step up. Tennessee lends a hand to its northern neighbor.

Kentucky, Tennessee reach agreement on WIC

Posted: Monday, February 2, 2009 7:58 pm

Kentucky has entered into an agreement with the state of Tennessee to assure that Kentucky participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will be able to purchase nutritious food items during massive power outages. The agreement, which began Thursday, will affect residents living in the Paducah, Ky., area (Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman, Graves, McCracken and Marshall counties), many of whom are without power due to recent ice storms. Power outages in this part of the state have caused many local stores to close, thus eliminating shopping choices for WIC participants in the area. “We are extremely grateful to the Tennessee WIC program for their assistance during this state emergency,” said Fran Hawkins, WIC director for Kentucky. “This agreement will allow residents who don’t have access to groceries due to the power outage to purchase nutritious food. Many families will be helped.” Hawkins said Tennessee stores in Henry, Weakley and Obion counties, will accept Kentucky WIC checks until Feb. 7. She cautioned that food guidelines could differ somewhat and Kentucky WIC participants will need to follow Tennessee’s guidelines while shopping there. Stores currently accepting checks from Kentucky WIC include: • In Henry County, Kroger in Paris; Medical Center Pharmacy in Paris; Walmart in Paris; E.W. James and Sons in Paris; Lakeway IGA in Paris; and Paris Landing General Store in Buchanan. • In Weakley County, E.W. James and Sons in Dresden, Martin and Greenfield; CVS Pharmacy in Dresden; Gleason Superette in Gleason; and Wal-mart in Martin. • In Obion County, Troy Food Rite in Troy; E.W. James and Sons in Union City; Walmart in Union City; Save-A-Lot in Union City; and Hornbeak Bestway in Hornbeak. Fulton Pic Pac in Fulton is also available. WIC, which began in the early 1970s, provides vouchers that can be redeemed at local stores for approved foods. It also provides free nutritional counseling and referrals to health care providers and social service agencies. Hawkins said this is the first time the Kentucky WIC program, which serves low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk, has entered into an agreement for another state to accept Kentucky WIC checks. In the past, Kentucky vendors have accepted checks from other states, such as Louisiana, that have experienced emergencies. Additional information about Kentucky’s WIC program can be found at www.chfs.ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3827. Published in The Messenger 2.209