New Gage Park WIC clinic puts nutrition support, grocery shopping in one place

As Silvia Miranda shops for groceries in Gage Park, her 3-year-old son, Davi, helps choose what goes into the cart. “Because most of the things is for him, I do let him pick a lot of things that I know he’s gonna eat or drink,” Miranda said. For Miranda, who first used WIC (Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) nearly three decades ago while pregnant with her oldest daughter, the experience is different this time around. She remembers traveling to separate locations for appointments and groceries, then sometimes reaching a checkout counter only to learn a store did not accept her benefits or did not have the items she needed. Now, a new WIC clinic brings those services together. Near North Health and Catholic Charities are connecting nutrition support and grocery shopping at the Gage Park location, where families can enroll in WIC, meet with a nutritionist and shop for approved foods next door. Amelia Stone, WIC program manager at Near North Health, said