Pandemic-Era WIC Participation in Wilmington, Delaware: Participants’ Experiences and Challenges.

Mckenna Halverson, Allison Karpyn
January 19, 2023

Pandemic-Era WIC Participation in Wilmington, Delaware: Participants’ Experiences and Challenges

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants
faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
including financial concerns, a national infant formula shortage, and rising food costs. To mitigate
these challenges, the United States Department of Agriculture implemented WIC program waivers
and flexibilities aiming to simplify program operations (e.g., remote appointments and food package
substitutions). However, little is known about WIC participants’ perceptions of these changes and
their impact on in-store benefit redemption.