Get your WIC on in Bayview Hunters Point

Submitted by Kenneth Hill, Food Guardian

The wait is over! With the help of U.C Berkeley graduate student Pamela Washington, Bayview Hunter’s Point women and children now have more options for where they can cash their WIC checks.

Bayview Hunter’s Point, the industrial district of San Francisco, a diverse community representing many income levels, has seen its share of food inequalities. Yet with two new approved WIC stores, H&K Market at 1300 Fitzgerald and Super Save at 4517 Third Street, located in the heart of the Bayview, women and children now have more access to nutritional foods.

Sam Aloudi, owner of Super Save, stated, “I am happy I can better serve the community my store is located in.”

The news comes at a great time for Aloudi. Since purchasing Super Save, he has been working with the Southeast Food Access (SEFA) Working Group to improve the quality of his store by becoming a full service grocer. With a low interest loan from SF Redevelopment Agency being discussed, the approval to accept WIC puts the icing on the cake.

Alongside the newest addition of WIC approved stores, the WIC program began its fruit and vegetable program in April 2010. In the past, WIC coupons were only good for milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, dry beans, peanut butter and infant formula. Now WIC also offers a voucher worth 6 dollars for women and children to purchase fruits and vegetables at neighborhood approved WIC stores, grocers, and farmers markets.

To publicize these changes, a WIC postcard has been created with the location of all WIC approved stores located in 94124 zip code. To order FREE WIC cards, please contact Sabrina Wu by email or at 415.581-2444.

Pictured is the vegetable isle at Super Save Market in July of 2007. Big changes since the picture was taken include a new deli counter.