Published: May 7th, 2021 10:00:05 pm

Changed: 05/07/2021 10:00:03 p.m.

It’s a good time to join children’s nutritional efforts

It’s almost Mother’s Day and I think of those who are mothering during this pandemic. Some have lost their jobs or have had to cut their working hours. Due to school or childcare closings, some had no choice but to stay at home with children. In any case, many mothers earn less income and may have difficulty putting food on the table.

When my son was born, I had to quit work to be with him at home. It was a happy time in many ways, but financially it was a really tough time. At one point I even started writing bad checks to buy groceries. After all, the stores wouldn’t accept my checks anymore.

I didn’t know then that I could have got help. The special nutritional supplement program for women, infants, and children known as the WIC had just been set up and I could have used the critical support it provided. If I had access to this help, I might not have had to write bad checks.

Nobody should have to fight just to support their family. Unfortunately, almost 50 years after the WIC began, only half of eligible mothers are participating, according to the Save the Children Action Network. For this reason, legislators must take the opportunity to improve and modernize the WIC through the ongoing process in Congress to re-authorize child nutrition. This would help provide more support for eligible mothers.

Why don’t we make this Mother’s Day special by honoring the mothers of our nation and calling on our Senators and Representatives to support WIC modernizations in the process of re-authorizing child feeding? Let’s ensure that all mothers, infants, and toddlers receive the critical nutritional and health services they need to grow, develop, and thrive. In this way we are investing in a future in which our children are less involved in crime or drugs and far more successful and productive.

Who knows? One of them could be the next Einstein!

BARBARA SOUTHARD

Bradford, NH

The author is a volunteer with the Save the Children Action Network.