WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC is the Special Supplemental Food and Nutrition Education Program funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture that has been operating in North Carolina since 1974. What began as a small pilot program serving approximately 4,500 individuals a month is now a major program serving over 230,000 mothers and children each month in North Carolina. The Cumberland County WIC Program serves over 11,500 each month in four locations: Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and Fort Bragg.

The Cumberland County Health Department is a recipient of the WIC CIAO grant. The WIC CIAO Project is a partnership between the Food Research & Action Center, UnidosUS, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, and the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

During the 2025 federal government shutdown and despite not being federally-funded for a period of time, WIC services were not interrupted at any of our locations. NC had enough funds saved to keep WIC fully operational through the end of November. However, the USDA was able to reallocate $300 million in their budget to keep WIC operating nationwide until the end of the federal government shutdown. In the middle of November, Congress fully funded WIC through September 30, 2026.

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health added a WIC Information Line to free up WIC Appointment Line congestion, meaning there are now two phone numbers clients can call regarding appointments. This addition was due to client feedback about difficulties with securing an appointment.