Missouri WIC announces the extension of the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) starting Jan. 5, 2023. The new amounts will be $25 per month for child participants, $44 per month for pregnant and postpartum participants and $49 per month for breastfeeding participants. This CVB can be used for fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables throughout the month. Previous CVB values range from $9 – $11. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

Eligible participants can come into the Macon County Health Department to increase WIC benefits on their eWIC card during business hours. Participants who redeem any January benefits before receiving the increase will not receive the increase until February.

Missouri WIC provides additional healthy fruits and vegetables for up to 60,000 women and children per month. WIC families have the opportunity to shop for nutritious foods at approximately 600 authorized WIC retailers throughout Missouri and can receive services at any of the 115 local agencies. WIC serves financially eligible women, infants, and children under the age of five. Fathers, stepparents, foster parents, grandparents, and guardians are also encouraged to apply for WIC benefits for any children in the household under the age of five.

Missouri WIC provides quality nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods and referrals to health services. It is also one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country.

Missourians interested in learning about the benefits of WIC by visiting our website or calling our office to see if you are eligible at 660-395-4711.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Nondiscrimination and complaint information can be found at wic.mo.gov.

WIC is funded by the USDA and is administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Macon County Health Department will be closed on Thursday, December 22 due to the extreme winter weather for the safety of our clients and staff.

Bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills are forecasted for this week. The National Weather Service forecast includes Winter Storm and Wind Chill Watches in effect from Dec. 22 through Dec. 24. Dangerously low temperatures are expected to reach single digits with potentially life-threatening wind chill values expected as low as -35°.

Prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to serious health issues including frostbite, hypothermia, and in extreme cases, death. Therefore, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) urges residents to  minimize outside activities during the extreme cold and follow these safety tips:

• Stay indoors in a warm area. If heat is not available, warming centers can be located on this online map or by calling 2-1-1.
• Check on neighbors, especially senior citizens and the disabled. Make sure they are using adequate and safe heating sources.
• If you do have to be outdoors, dress in several layers of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. The space between these layers works as insulation to help keep you warmer.

• • Wear something on your head and wear water-repellent boots.
  • Protect your ears and face. Wear a scarf to help protect your lungs from cold air – it will also protect your ears and face.
  • Carry extra clothes with you such as socks, gloves, hats and jackets so you can change them if they get wet.

• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
  • Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and pale or waxy white appearance of extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. Other signs may include numbness, a tingling or stinging sensation in the affected body part, and reduced blood flow. If any of these symptoms are present, seek help immediately.
  • The warning signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. In infants, the skin will turn bright red and cold, and they may present with a very low energy level. If any of these signs appear, get the individual to a warm location immediately and call 911 for medical assistance.
• Increase fluid intake regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink fluids. Ensure infants and children drink adequate amounts of liquids. Avoid alcohol.
• Make sure your car is properly winterized. Keep your gas tank filled. Prepare an emergency kit including blankets, a flashlight, waterproof matches, non-perishable foods, and water.
• Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as alternate emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity. When using alternative heating sources, such as a generator, a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater, take necessary safety precautions:
  • Make sure all heating devices are properly ventilated and always operate a generator outdoors and at least 20 feet away from any window, door or vent in your home. Improper heating devices can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup in the home.
  • Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause flu-like illness or death. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen during extreme cold weather when individuals try warming their homes through unconventional methods. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 immediately and get the exposed individual to fresh air.
  • Never heat your home with a gas stove, oven, kerosene heater or charcoal barbecue grill.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher handy and ensure everyone knows how to use it properly.
  • Place anything that can burn easily at least three feet away from space heaters.
  • Do NOT run a car or truck inside a garage that is attached to your house, even if you do leave the door open.
• Limit outdoor time for your pets. They are also susceptible to the extreme cold temperatures.

We will have changes to our regular hours to do the winter holidays and upcoming staff meetings:

• Wednesday, December 21, 2023: closed from 11:30-1
• Thursday, December 22, 2023: closed from 11-1
• Monday, December 26, 2023: closed all day
• Monday, January 2, 2023: closed all day

We wish you a happy holiday season and happy new year.

Due to the upcoming winter weather and for the safety of our clients and staff, the Macon County Health Department will be closed on Thursday, December 22, 2022.

We hope you all have a happy holiday season and stay safe and warm in the winter weather.

If you are in need of a warm place to be, Missouri DHSS has a list of warming centers or you can look at 211helps.org.  In Macon, the Public Library is listed as a warming center, call ahead directly to the library for their hours.

Join us for a family winter wellness challenge from January 9-April 6, 2023!

The family winter wellness challenge is a 12-week challenge to help your family to increase movement, encourage healthy eating, and incorporate other wellness practices into your daily life.  Building healthy habits as a family, including with children in the household, can help create a lifetime of healthy habits for everyone.

Each week our staff will send out a short weekly newsletter with information on the week’s topic, share a video of a healthy recipe, and set a weekly challenge to improve eating or physical activity habits.  We will encourage physical activity throughout the challenge with a gift of a pedometer to each person in the family and physical activity tracking throughout the 12 weeks.

Members will be invited to a private Facebook group to encourage accountability, and two-way conversation and help improve a sense of community during this challenge. We are all working together!

It’s a 12-week commitment that is free to you! This challenge is for everyone of all ages, we want your family and children to join the challenge with you to all work together to work toward building healthy habits.

Each person will get a pedometer to help track steps and encourage physical activity.  We will post videos with exercise ideas and recipes to give some easy and simple ideas for your family.

If you have any questions, call the health department at 660-395-4711 and ask to speak with Erin or Stacy.

To sign up, come into the Health Department or complete our form online: https://www.maconmohealth.org/familywellness/