DUNKIRK, N.Y. -- Catholic Charities of Buffalo is set take over the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC Program, in Chautauqua County October 1. The group already serves Erie and Niagara counties and was awarded a five-year, $27 million contract to add Chautauqua.
"I'm very excited about it," said Maria Perez-Cruz, Chautauqua County Catholic Charities director.
WIC is a federally funded nutrition education program for moms, pregnant women and children up to age five. It's expected to serve more than 3,300 people in the area. The program is now part of a long menu of emergency assistance and counseling services Catholic Charities already provides.
"I think that through all these programs, people get more connected to the resources that we have in our communities," said Perez-Cruz.
For the last five years the Chautauqua County Health Department ran the program, and will now help Catholic Charities through the transition.
"The goal of the whole transition was to have as less of an impact onto the participants as possible," said Judette Dahleiden, Catholic Charities WIC Director
Program leaders said not only will WIC have a new design, it'll also lead those in search of help to other services.
"The goal is always to be participant centered. They may have other concerns and then it is also our responsibility to refer them to other agencies that could help them," said Dahleiden.
Like Perez-Cruz, who works to give people the tools and strength they need to find a way out of the situation they're in.
"It's very rewarding for us, because that's why we are in social work. Because we want to help people, we want to provide the services that will help them to better their life," said Perez-Cruz.
In addition to Dunkirk, Catholic Charities will also run the WIC program in its Jamestown, Westfield, Sherman and Silver Creek locations.