A HEALTHY START: HOW WIC SUPPORTS BREASTFEEDING, NUTRITION, AND FAMILY GROWTH
Last Updated on January 4, 2026 by Joyce Runyan
Be sure to watch or listen to this episode by clicking this link: A Healthy Start: How WIC Supports Breastfeeding, Nutrition, And Family Growth
Brenda sat down with Leah Blea, the county’s WIC nutritionist, to talk about a government funded resource available to many in Quay County.
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children. The program provides supplemental nutrition for these groups, along with food education.
Specifically, three categories of clients are served. These include pregnant women, infants (defined as from birth to one year old), and children from one to five years old.
Helping mothers who want to breastfeed their babies is a specific focus. WIC helps by providing breastfeeding teams who can give information/education, peer counselling, and lactation consultants, as well as nutritional advice aimed at aiding the nursing mom.
People applying for WIC assistance will be evaluated based on proof they live in the county; by verification of ID; assessment of nutritional need; and, income. Specifically, the limit for income is 185% of what has been defined as the “poverty level”.
To apply for WIC benefits, the woman can contact the local WIC office as soon as she knows she is pregnant. She may visit in person at 310 S. 2nd Street in Tucumcari. She doesn’t need an appointment: walk-ins are welcome. Or the office may be contacted by phone at (575) 461-4904, option 2.
Grandparents with documented, legal guardianship of the child may also apply for assistance; as well as foster parents, in which case WIC and CYFD will coordinate the application process.
Bilingual and translation services are available at the WIC office.
A significant portion of WIC’s services include the actual provision of food supplies to the client. These include but are not limited to dairy, eggs, juices, baby foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and bread/tortillas. WIC monies may also go toward purchasing fresh produce from the local Farmer’s Market. Some food may be given to clients at WIC’s nutrition classes, as well.
Other services include height, weight and blood iron monitoring at each class or meeting. WIC offers food shopping guides. Recipes are available at nmwic.org.
Finally, WIC provides nutrition/health education classes. They are moving back to an in-person classroom model since COVID, but classes are still available online.
As a parting thought, Brenda asked Leah what her favorite part of her job has been. She responded that she gets a lot of joy out of getting to know families and watching them grow.
Be sure to contact the local WIC office if you need this sort of assistance and think you may qualify. Again, they are located at 310 S. 2nd Street. Phone number: 461-4904, option 2.
