If you are a new mom or an expectant mother, you might be wondering what WIC is all about and how to locate a WIC store. This guide is here to help you understand what WIC is, how it works, and where to find a WIC store.
What is WIC?
WIC is the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides nutrition and breastfeeding services and supplemental foods to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday.
WIC gives you resources, knowledge and tools to help you and support your family.
It’s free for moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents and all in Bloomington, Illinois families who qualify.
Eligibility for WIC
To be eligible for WIC in Bloomington, Illinois, you must meet the following criteria:
- Live in the state where you apply for WIC.
- Be a pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman, an infant, or a child under the age of five.
- Be at nutritional risk, which means that there is a medical or dietary condition that can be improved by participating in the WIC program.
- Meet the income guidelines in Bloomington, Illinois, which vary by state.
Benefits of WIC
There are four key parts to the WIC program:
1. Healthy Foods. WIC foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, peanut butter/beans, cereal, juice, infant foods and formula.
2. Breastfeeding Support. WIC provides breastfeeding education, support, and breast pumps to qualifying participants.
3. Nutrition Education. Nutrition information, tools and solutions for parenting, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
4. Health Care Referrals. Personalized referrals to health services and other community resources.
How to apply for WIC
To apply for WIC in Bloomington, Illinois, follow these steps:
1. Find a local WIC agency: Use the WIC agency locator on your state Department of Health and Human Services website to find a WIC agency near you.
2. Make an appointment: Call the WIC agency to schedule an appointment. Be prepared to provide information about your income, residency, and family size.
3. Attend the appointment: At the appointment, you will meet with a WIC staff member who will assess your nutritional risk and provide nutrition education.
4. Receive WIC checks: If you are eligible, you will receive WIC checks that can be used to purchase WIC-approved foods at a WIC store.
What to expect during the WIC appointment
- Check your height and weight to determine your body mass index (BMI).
- Take a blood sample to test for anemia.
- Discuss your medical and dietary history to determine your nutritional risk.
- Provide nutrition education on healthy eating, breastfeeding, and infant feeding.
WIC Stores
WIC benefits are widely accepted for eligible food items at various stores in Bloomington, Illinois:
Stores Accept WIC Card in Bloomington, Illinois
ALDI 68054 68054
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 1/24/1991
Address :
1025 Wylie Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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ALDI 68055
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 10/18/2021
Address :
2121 Village Lane,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Amigo Express
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/15/2015
Address :
502 N Prospect Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Bloomington Fast Stop
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 5/20/2014
Address :
16 Quest Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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BLOOMINGTON MEATS
Store Details :
- Type: Meat/Poultry Specialty
- Authorization Date: 1/24/2006
Address :
2401 Bunn St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Bloomington Shell
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 4/30/2021
Address :
2401 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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CARNICERIA LA MEXICANA
Store Details :
- Type: Medium Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 5/9/2001
Address :
1416 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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CASEY'S GENERAL STORE 1721
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 5/10/2013
Address :
3007 Gill St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Casey's General Store 1764
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 5/3/2005
Address :
911 Morrissey Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Casey's General Store 2554
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 8/30/2005
Address :
2017 Fox Creek Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Circle K 1211
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/3/2003
Address :
515 S Clinton St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Circle K 1251
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 6/28/2007
Address :
2301 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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Circle K 129
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 11/18/2005
Address :
1903 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Circle K 1407
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 10/28/2014
Address :
2412 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Circle K 1421
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 10/28/2014
Address :
1206 N Towanda Barnes Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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Circle K 4701210
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/3/2003
Address :
1200 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Common Ground Grocery
Store Details :
- Type: Medium Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 7/15/2019
Address :
516 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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CVS 7017
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 10/14/2009
Address :
1130 S Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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CVS Pharmacy 8660
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/1/2006
Address :
210 N Center St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Dollar General 12420
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/9/2010
Address :
103 E Hamilton Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Dollar General 16019
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 8/20/2015
Address :
1020 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Dollar General 21046
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 5/17/2019
Address :
1601 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Dollar General 21881
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 7/20/2020
Address :
1420 Airport Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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DOLLAR GENERAL 9247
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 11/16/2004
Address :
1209 Towanda Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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DOLLAR TREE 0744
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 7/22/2006
Address :
1407 N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Dollar Tree 2379
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 7/1/2016
Address :
1605 Morrissey Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Dollar Tree 3008
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/7/2010
Address :
2243 Westgate Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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Downtown Bloomington Association
Store Details :
- Type: Farmer's Market
- Authorization Date: 4/27/2009
Address :
200 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market
Store Details :
- Type: Farmer's Market
- Authorization Date: 11/9/2020
Address :
200 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Family Dollar Store 1742
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 6/4/2009
Address :
1512 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Fast Stop
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 3/28/2017
Address :
1001 Six Points Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Franzetti's Pantry Plus NA
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 1/14/2020
Address :
801 E Washington St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Freedom Oil Company 21
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/28/2015
Address :
1801 S. Veterans Parkway,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Freedom Oil Company 30
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 5/30/2013
Address :
18928 Us Highway 150,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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Freedom Oil Company 39
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/1/2013
Address :
1802 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Freedom Oil Company 49
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/11/2011
Address :
1331 N Linden St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Fresh Thyme Farmers Market 110BLM
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 4/25/2017
Address :
403 N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Green Top Grocery
Store Details :
- Type: Large Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 5/15/2017
Address :
921 East Washington Street,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Hot Spot Grocery And Liquor
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/10/2020
Address :
1102 N Hershey Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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HUCK'S 355
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/14/2005
Address :
2401 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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HUCKS 360
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/9/2003
Address :
102 W Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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HUCKS 353
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 8/24/2006
Address :
501 N Hershey Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Hy-Vee 1035
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 2/17/2015
Address :
1403 N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Hy-Vee C-Store 5035
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 2/17/2015
Address :
1405 N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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I Mart Stores LLC IL
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 4/30/2020
Address :
807 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Illini Liquor
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/18/2020
Address :
2402 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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JEWEL 3116
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 1/1/1930
Address :
2203 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Jewel-Osco Supermarket 03775
Store Details :
- Type: Supermarket
- Authorization Date: 1/1/1930
Address :
2103A N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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KROGER 856
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 2/6/1969
Address :
1502 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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KROGER 943
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 11/24/1981
Address :
2507 E OAKLAND AVE,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Lupita's Hispanic & American Grocery
Store Details :
- Type: Medium Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 10/18/2012
Address :
1512 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Main Street Convenience
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 8/7/2012
Address :
1919 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Mk Central Mini Mart Corp 001
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 1/21/2021
Address :
1201 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Murphy USA 6827
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/1/2021
Address :
2223 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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Om Harim Corp
Store Details :
- Type: Large Grocery Store
- Authorization Date: 10/29/2019
Address :
908 S Eldorado Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Papa Murphy's Pizza IL008
Store Details :
- Type: Bakery Specialty
- Authorization Date: 1/21/2020
Address :
2402 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Pilot Travel Center 299
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 1/17/2012
Address :
1522 W Market Street,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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QIK-N-EZ # 62
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 11/24/1998
Address :
1607 Morrissey Dr,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Rayan Price Rite Food Mart 1
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 7/12/2019
Address :
706 N Clinton St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Red And Blue Shop 1
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 10/24/2016
Address :
1002 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Rush Food & Smoke
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/20/2017
Address :
1401 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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SCHNUCKS - BLOOMINGTON 706
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 1/30/1990
Address :
1701 E Empire St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Schwans Home Service 104770
Store Details :
- Type: Delivery Route
- Authorization Date: 1/21/1999
Address :
2402 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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THORNTON OIL 360
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/14/2004
Address :
906 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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THORNTON OIL 361
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 9/14/2004
Address :
1011 N Hershey Rd,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Walgreens 05188
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 4/1/1999
Address :
1525 N Veterans Pkwy,
Bloomington, IL 61704.
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Walgreens 11828
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 12/23/2008
Address :
909 S Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Walgreens 15164
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 7/16/2012
Address :
2401 E Oakland Ave,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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WALGREENS 9983
Store Details :
- Type: Combination Grocery/Other
- Authorization Date: 8/3/1992
Address :
1408 N Main St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
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Walmart SUPERCENTER 3459
Store Details :
- Type: Super Store
- Authorization Date: 8/14/2002
Address :
2225 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61705.
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West Market Groceries
Store Details :
- Type: Convenience Store
- Authorization Date: 12/10/2012
Address :
301 W Market St,
Bloomington, IL 61701.
Get Directions
Tips for shopping at a WIC store in Bloomington, Illinois
Here are some tips for shopping at a WIC store in Bloomington, Illinois:
1. Plan ahead: Before going to the store, make a list of the WIC-approved foods you need to purchase.
2. Check expiration dates: Make sure to check the expiration dates on all food items before purchasing them.
3. Don't forget your WIC checks: Make sure to bring your WIC checks with you to the store.
4. Ask for help: If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to ask a WIC store staff member for help.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
Federal Poverty Limit in Illinois
| POVERTY LIMIT FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Persons in Family | Poverty Limit(100%) | Poverty Limit(200%) |
| 1 | $14,580 | $29,160 |
| 2 | $19,720 | $39,440 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $49,720 |
| 4 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| 5 | $35,140 | $70,280 |
| 6 | $40,280 | $80,560 |
| 7 | $45,420 | $90,840 |
| 8 | $50,560 | $101,120 |
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,140 for each additional person. | ||
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1.What is the income limit to qualify for WIC Bloomington, Illinois?
The income limit to qualify for WIC varies by state and household size. Check Federal Poverty Limit above for your state.
2. Can I apply for WIC if I am an undocumented immigrant?
Yes, undocumented immigrants may be eligible for WIC if they meet the other eligibility requirements. WIC is a non-cash benefit, so it does not affect immigration status.
3. How often can I visit a WIC store Bloomington, Illinois?
WIC participants are typically required to visit a WIC store once a month to pick up their food benefits.
4. Can I use my WIC benefits at any grocery store?
No, WIC benefits can only be used at WIC-approved stores Bloomington, Illinois.
4. Can I use my WIC card in another state ?
You can not use one state WIC card in another state. However if you relocate to another state can go to that state WIC agency to update WIC card for that state.
The new agency will verify your eligibility, and you can continue to receive benefits in the new state.
5. What should I do if I lose my WIC checks?
If you lose your WIC checks, contact your local WIC agency immediately to request replacement checks.