Washington WIC chosen for online ordering pilot program with Walmart

Washington state has introduced an innovative pilot program that enables families enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program to order WIC-approved foods online from Walmart. This initiative addresses the challenges many families face in accessing nutritious food, particularly in areas with limited availability of WIC-approved items. Washington is one of 11 states participating in this pilot, and it's notably one of only two states working directly with Walmart as a national retailer. Funded by a grant from the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact, the program allows participants to easily add their WIC cards to their Walmart accounts, simplifying the shopping process. With various options such as delivery and pickup, the program is designed to remove barriers and ensure families can obtain healthy foods in a convenient manner.

According to Brittany Tybo, WIC Director at the Washington State Department of Health, this partnership significantly helps families struggling with access to stores. The pilot project is set to run through December 31, 2025, during which its effectiveness will be evaluated. Following this evaluation, there are plans to expand online ordering for WIC participants to include more retailers across Washington.