In October 2010, Budding Readers formed a partnership with the Finger Lakes WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Program in Canandaigua, NY. WIC’s goal is to improve the health and nutrition of moms and kids (pre-birth to age 5). WIC is a New York State Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, for Women, Infants & Children with limited incomes, which provides breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling, health education, health care referrals, referrals to other services, and access to nutritious foods.
Budding Readers offered a new book to each child and reading tips for parents every time they come to an appointment at the Canandaigua WIC office. We were pleased to be part of the services offered at the Canandaigua WIC office to help promote healthy outcomes for the children they serve.
When Covid hit, in-person appointments ceased, and services were provided by phone, thus no books could be given out; families were not coming into the office. That is still the situation in summer 2023. We are hopeful that at some point there will be a new operational model that brings families into the office periodically.
Over 27,000 new books along with our Parent Guide of tips for reading to babies and young children have been given to WIC families.
Early grants from the F. F. Thompson Foundation, the Wegman Foundation, and the Wilson Foundation helped to get the program off to a strong start.
Want More Information About the WIC Partnership?
Contact: Tam Spitzer
Email: wic@buddingreaders.org
Phone: (585) 900 -1725
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.”
-Garrison Keillor