Columbus WIC Center Closing

The WIC Center in Columbus is closing and many families will suffer do to the lack of.

For many mothers, it's a lifeline.

The women's, infants and children food distribution center provides families with supplemental foods - everything from eggs and dairy, produce, baby foods and formula.

But the lowndes county wic center is closing - for good.

And as our cash matlock learned - this came as a surprise to many of the moms who need help the most.

He joins us live in the studio with more on his findings.

Aundrea, wic is a subset of the mississippi state department of health and has helped provide families with food and other goods for nearly 5 decades.

With the lowndes county branch closing, participants will be forced to drive to neighboring counties to continue with the program.

But for many families, that's just not possible.

When lacharley sherrod made her monthly trip to wic this morning, she was surprised with what greeted her at the door.

In bold letters, the distribution center announcing it will permanently close on august 28th.

"this is my first time hearing that they will be closing, so that's very unfortunate."

And she definitely didn't expect this trip... to be her last.

"people who pick up on the 29th, like me, we won't even get benefits for august."

A former south carolina resident, sherrod is used to picking up supplements at the local grocery store, where shoppers can use a wic voucher.

"some states have already transitioned into programs where you can actually pick up wic from the grocery stores, but mississippi hasn't transitioned yet.

So, the families that will lose this benefit-- it's going to be harsh on them."

Jamie matthews uses wic to support her two children.

Her youngest, christopher, is just 5 weeks old.

"i was shocked because this is the only distribution center that we have in about a 30 mile radius."

She says it's unrealistic for the health department to ask people to drive to monroe or clay county.

"a lot of people come on their lunch breaks.

I do know a lot of people don't have transportation, so it's already hard for them to come out here with it being so far out."

Matthews says many in the community... just want an explanation.

"people are angry.

A lot of people are shocked.

A lot of people are disappointed because this is their only means."

Wic participants must go through multiple steps before they are accepted into the program.

We have reached out to the state department of health for comment.

We have yet to hear back from them.