Aroostook County Action Program, Inc. (ACAP) celebrated WIC’s (Supplemental Food for Women, Infants and Children program) 40th anniversary Aug. 28, 2014.
The festivities took place at its main office at 44 Park Street in Presque Isle. WIC is a federally-funded program that provides food vouchers, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and access to health services to low-income women, infants and children 5 years of age and younger.
This past year in Aroostook County, WIC served a total of 2,273 participants. A study on the benefits of WIC participation has shown that women who participated in the program during their pregnancies had lower Medicaid (MaineCare) costs for themselves and their babies than did women who did not participate. WIC participation has also been linked with longer gestation periods, higher birth weights and lower infant mortality.
“Since 1978, ACAP has provided oversight for the WIC program in Aroostook County,” explains Sue Powers, senior manager for ACAP Family Services. “Like our other ACAP services, WIC’s goal is to support the needs of low-income families that provide opportunities to help them work toward self-sufficiency and economic independence.”
WIC holds clinics in 10 Aroostook County communities — Fort Kent, Houlton, Presque Isle, Madawaska, Island Falls, Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Van Buren, Ashland and Mars Hill, as well as in the Washington County town of Danforth.
In addition to WIC families and ACAP staff members, attendees of the Aug. 28 event included community members and ACAP’s Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care children. In recognition of our Aroostook County heritage, attendees enjoyed a baked potato bar with 40 different toppings.
For 42 years, ACAP has provided the people of Aroostook County with services and resources that help individuals and families achieve greater economic independence. As a leader, or in partnership with others, ACAP provides guidance to the community in responding to emerging human needs in the areas of community, family, energy, housing, employment and training services.
For more information on ACAP, or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact the agency at 771 Main Street, on the web at www.acap-me.org, or by calling 764-3721.
