Longview and Kilgore, TX
Editor’s Note: The Wellness Pointe WIC offices are Milk Depots for the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas
As a drop off location for the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, the Longview and Kilgore WIC offices of Wellness Pointe are honored to help spread the word of the importance of breastfeeding for mother and baby. We are also proud to educate the public of the importance of becoming a donor for those families that have a need for breastmilk for their babies.
WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is a USDA program that is available in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. WIC is available to women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and children up to 5 years old. Currently 53% of the infants born in the US and its territories are served by WIC. By offering prenatal, breastfeeding and postpartum nutritional education, we help families break the cycle of obesity and poor eating habits.
We are fully committed to assisting mothers in order for them to have healthy, long-term breastfeeding experiences. Our breastfeeding peer counselors and WIC staff are trained in the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, assistance with latch, issuance of breast pumps, and supporting our breastfeeding families. Our breastfeeding peer counselors go to our local hospitals to visit with and assess the needs of our WIC moms. This is a vital link in the chain of continued community breastfeeding support. We work together with the hospitals, especially with families that may have an infant in the NICU, to make sure that they have the resources and equipment available to provide vital support during this stressful time.
We offer three styles of breast pumps-large electric, small electric, and hand pumps at no cost to our clients. Our WIC breastfeeding staff provides education on the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby-reducing certain types of female cancers, reducing obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, lowering the rate of ear infections, stronger immune systems and smarter babies!
Our WIC offices serve close to 5,400 families each month in East Texas. Our locations have three Registered Dietitians, two Nutritionists, five members of the breastfeeding department and three WIC Certification Specialists that are available to answer any nutritional issues that may arise.
Our Longview location has been a drop off location since May 2012 and has collected 10,014 ounces of donor breast milk. The Longview and Kilgore WIC offices are honored to support the Mothers’ Milk Bank North Texas, our donors, and the families that benefit from their generosity.
Wellness Pointe WIC Staff:
- Director- Scherry Barnes
- Office Manager- Maria Galvin
- Breastfeeding Coordinator- Carole S. McKinney
- Registered Dietitians- Kyle Blanton, RD, Denise Frye MS, RDN, LD, Stacy Lennon RDN, LD
- Nutritionists- Rachel W., BS, Shya C., BS, WIC Certification Specialist Cristina V.
- Breastfeeding Peer Counselors- Rosa R., Judy V., Miriam M., and Mariesha R.
- Income Department- Eli R., Lourdes S.