West Virginia families who need help buying healthy food during pregnancy, or for a baby or toddler, can turn to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The program is free and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Clinics operate in nearly every part of the state. Our directory lists 56 WIC offices, from the Kanawha Valley to the Eastern Panhandle. This page explains how the system is organised, who qualifies, and how to get from a phone call to a grocery-store checkout.

How WIC Is Organised in West Virginia

The federal government pays for WIC, but each state runs its own program. In West Virginia, the program is administered by the state health agency, the West Virginia Department of Health, through its Bureau for Public Health and its Office of Nutrition Services. That state office sets clinic procedures, trains staff, maintains the list of approved foods, and works with local agencies that see families in person.

You will rarely deal with the state office directly. Your contact is a local clinic, and the type of host agency varies. Many clinics operate from county health departments. The Harrison County Health Department WIC Office at 330 West Main Street in Clarksburg is one example. Another is the Marion County Health Department WIC Office at 532 Pennsylvania Avenue in Fairmont.

Other clinics are run by community health centers or hospitals. The Wayne County Fort Gay Family Health Center WIC Office at 71 Wayne Street in Fort Gay works this way. So does the Kanawha County Valley Health Systems Incorporation WIC Office at 408 Alexander Street in Cedar Grove.

The host agency does not change your benefits. Eligibility rules, food packages, and the application process follow state and federal standards wherever you go. A mother in Clarksburg and a mother in Lindside qualify under the same rules. The difference is mostly in clinic hours, staffing, and how far you drive.

Kanawha Valley, Eastern Panhandle, and the Coalfields: Regional Differences

West Virginia has no large metro area by national standards, but its regions still differ. The differences affect how easily a family can reach a WIC office.

Charleston and the Kanawha Valley

Charleston is the state capital and the busiest hub in our listings. The Kanawha County Charleston WIC Office is at 4188 Washington Street West, and its phone number is 304-746-7880. The valley has a second site in Cedar Grove, so families in the upper valley do not always need to travel into the city. You can browse every site in Kanawha County, which has three listings.

The Eastern Panhandle

Martinsburg, in Berkeley County, is the main population center in the Eastern Panhandle. The Berkeley County WIC Office is at 99 Tavern Road, phone 304-369-7970. Farther west, the Morgan County WIC Office at 106 Sand Mine Road in Berkeley Springs serves a smaller county with fewer services nearby. Our Berkeley County page shows both of its listings.

Southern West Virginia

The southern coalfields and the New River region have long distances between towns. Several clinics anchor the area:

Smaller Central and Northern Counties

Central West Virginia has several small-county clinics. Examples are the Clay County Health Department WIC Office on Main Street in Clay and the Calhoun County WIC Office on Hospital Road in Grantsville. The Gilmer County WIC Office is at 212 East Main Street in Glenville, and the Braxton County Central WIC Office is at 537 Enterprise Drive in Gassaway.

Clinics in counties like these may be open fewer days than a city office. Call before you go. In the Northern Panhandle, the Brooke County WIC Office at 500 West Virginia 2 in Beech Bottom serves the Ohio River corridor.

Who Qualifies for WIC in West Virginia

WIC serves specific groups, not everyone with a low income. You must fall into one of these categories:

You also need to live in West Virginia and meet an income guideline. The federal limit is 185 percent of the poverty level, and it changes each year. Families that receive Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF are usually considered income-eligible because of that participation. Ask the clinic to confirm, since it can save you paperwork.

The third requirement is a nutrition risk. A health professional at the clinic assesses it during your visit. Common examples are low iron, underweight or overweight status, or a diet lacking key nutrients. Most applicants who meet the first two requirements also meet this one.

WIC costs nothing to apply for or use. No clinic should charge you a fee. The program also has no asset test, so owning a car or a home does not disqualify you.

What Happens at a West Virginia WIC Appointment

Plan on a visit of about an hour, though the length varies by clinic and the number of people you are enrolling. Staff will ask about your household, your income, and your health history. They will measure height and weight. They will usually check iron levels with a quick finger-stick test, and they may ask about your diet and feeding plans for your baby.

Bring these items to the first appointment:

Staff then issue benefits for specific foods. The WIC food package usually includes items such as milk, eggs, whole grains, cereal, beans, peanut butter, and infant formula. It also includes a monthly benefit for fruits and vegetables. You return for follow-up visits at set intervals, when benefits are renewed and your child's growth is checked. Clinics also offer nutrition education and breastfeeding support, and they can refer you to other health services.

Finding the Right Office From Our Listings

Start with the county you live in, then check the neighboring counties. Some families find a clinic across the county line is closer or has better hours. Our county pages cover Kanawha County, Raleigh County, Mercer County, and others, so you can compare addresses and phone numbers.

Read listing names carefully. A few are shared between agencies, and one entry can look inconsistent. The office named for Randolph County and the Elkins Health Department is at Confederate Road in Franklin, and our database places it in Pendleton County. Phone ahead to confirm the exact location and which counties each clinic serves before you drive.

When you call, ask four questions: which days the clinic is open, whether appointments are required, what documents to bring, and whether a remote or phone appointment is possible for any part of the process.

WIC offices throughout West Virginia are administered by the state health department through a network of local clinic agencies — including county health departments, hospitals, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations — that are authorized to certify participants and provide nutrition services. West Virginia's WIC program follows USDA federal guidelines while operating its own approved food list and vendor management system.

WIC Office locations are available in 53 cities across West Virginia. They are spread across 50 counties.

Cities with the highest number of WIC offices include Danville, Charleston, Martinsburg, which serve large populations of eligible families and often host multiple clinic sites to reduce travel barriers.

Pregnant women, new mothers, and families with young children in West Virginia who think they may be eligible for WIC are encouraged to apply even if they are unsure — income eligibility is based on household size and WIC serves families up to 185% of the federal poverty level. Applying does not affect other public benefit programs.

WIC Office by Counties

B
C
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
W

West Virginia WIC participants can find their nearest authorized WIC vendor — the grocery stores and pharmacies where their EBT benefits can be used — through the state WIC program's vendor locator tool. If you move within West Virginia, contact your current WIC clinic to transfer your case to the new local agency without losing your current certification period.

Browse WIC Office by county across West Virginia to find the WIC clinic serving your area and get contact information for scheduling an eligibility appointment.

Using WIC After You Enroll in West Virginia

Enrolling is only the first step. WIC works best when you keep your follow-up appointments and use the benefits each month. Benefits are issued for specific foods and quantities, and they expire if unused. Check the dates your clinic gives you and plan shopping trips around them.

You can redeem WIC benefits only at stores authorized by the state program, so ask your clinic for the current list. In smaller counties, that may mean a short list of grocery stores in the county seat. In larger towns like Charleston, Martinsburg, and Beckley, there are more choices. Learn the program's approved brands and package sizes before you shop. It prevents embarrassing delays at the register.

Breastfeeding mothers should ask clinic staff about counseling and any pumps or supplies the local office offers. Clinics also refer families to immunization services, prenatal care, and other local programs. Keep your clinic's phone number saved. If you lose your benefits, change address, or have a baby, tell the office promptly so your file stays accurate.

West Virginia WIC Questions

Contact the WIC clinic nearest you and ask to schedule a certification appointment. For example, the Boone County Health Department WIC Office in Danville is reachable at 304-369-7967, and the Kanawha County Charleston WIC Office is at 304-746-7880. At the visit, staff review your identity, residency, income, and health information. They also take measurements and a simple blood test. If you qualify, they explain your food benefits and schedule your next visit. Bring all documents to avoid a second trip.

Participation in Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF generally satisfies the income requirement, so you may not need to submit pay stubs. You still must belong to a WIC category, such as pregnant woman, new mother, infant, or child under five. You must also live in West Virginia and have a nutrition risk identified by clinic staff. Bring your current benefit letter or card to the appointment. If you do not receive those programs, you can still qualify on income if your household is at or below the federal WIC guideline.

WIC is free. No clinic should charge you to apply, attend appointments, or receive nutrition counseling. You use your benefits at grocery stores authorized by the West Virginia WIC program, not at every store. Ask your clinic for the current list of approved stores in your county and for guidance on approved brands and package sizes. If a cashier rejects an item you believe is covered, call your clinic. Staff can tell you whether the item is allowed under your food package.

Yes. WIC serves the child, and the adult who cares for that child can apply on the child's behalf. That includes fathers, grandparents raising grandchildren, foster parents, and other legal guardians. Bring proof of the child's identity and your own photo identification. Guardians and foster parents should also bring any paperwork showing the child lives with them. Children usually need to be present for the measurements, so check with your clinic about its rules before you arrange childcare or rely on another relative.

Mountain roads can make a short map distance a long drive. In southern counties, you might compare Boone County with a neighboring county. Along the Tug Fork, the Fort Gay clinic in Wayne County may be closer than the county seat. Call the clinics near you and ask about hours, appointment days, and whether any part of the visit can be done by phone. Also ask if you can schedule visits for several family members on the same day.

Tell your current clinic before you move, or call the clinic in your new county as soon as you settle. Because the state sets WIC rules for every county, you should not have to start over. Staff can usually transfer your file and tell you when to book your next visit. Update your address with the clinic so your records stay current. Bring proof of your new address to the first appointment, and ask whether your existing benefits stay valid until then.