Thread: CA: Infants and Children nutrition program may close

Article published Jul 3, 2007
Earlimart families protest
Women, Infants and Children nutrition program may close
By Eduardo Stanley
Staff writer

EARLIMART — Dozens of mothers packed a June meeting of the Earlimart School District board of directors. Their objective: Pressure the board into keeping the Women, Infants and Children program in town.

The program, which provides food coupons and other nutrition-related services to low-income residents, serves 1,900 of Earlimart's 7,000 residents. But its future in Earlimart became clouded when the school district, which rents space to the agency at 782 East Washington Ave., announced that the agreement would come to an end Oct. 1.

So recipients spoke up.

"I am representing a number of families who could not be here today," parent Maria Chavez said. "We want WIC to stay here, because we need the help they give us."

Parent Irma Rodriguez said many residents wouldn't be able to follow WIC to another community. "Here, people can even go on foot," she said. "Not everyone has a car or can drive."

Following the comments, the board agreed to give WIC a rent-free four-month extension "in exchange for WIC not leaving Earlimart." The extension is still being negotiated.

"This gives us a bit of time," said Peggy Redfern, a WIC representative. "I think they felt the pressure from the people, and they wanted to maintain a balance with the community."

The agency's long-term future in Earlimart remains in doubt, however.

WIC distributes $100,000 worth of food coupons in Earlimart each

month, and WIC coupons represent 20 percent of many families' income, officials said. The community is largely Hispanic.

"Many people didn't want to come [at first] because of their fears of immigration," Rodriguez said.

Many cannot receive unemployment assistance because of a lack of legal documentation, she said. That's why WIC is vital, she said.

For Esmeralda Verduzco, WIC isn't just about groceries.

"They train us about nutrition," she said. "The staff is very courteous, and they treat us well."

School district officials had asked program representatives to vacate the building by October.

Finding a new Earlimart location might not be easy, said Susan Elizabeth, a specialist on obesity issues.

"There aren't any adequate buildings in town, nor is there any money for construction," she said.

WIC representative Karina Perez said the school board's interest in WIC goes beyond its status as landlord.

"You have a great responsibility because you worry about education," she told the board at the June 19 meeting, "and our teachers cannot teach children who are malnourished."

The reporter can be reached at estanley@visalia.gannett.com.

http://www.tulareadvanceregister.com/ap ... 30304/1002

serves 1,900 of Earlimart's 7,000 residents.

that's a huge portion of the population to be on assistance. And they're illegal aliens to boot?

What whingers and whiners the illegals are. They will take full advantage of anything our system throws at them whether they are entitled or not.

I wonder how many of our policies would change if Americans could come on a tour of California, especially Los Angeles.

Anyone been there recently? Its a real dump now of third world proportions

WIC distributes $100,000 worth of food coupons in Earlimart each
month, and WIC coupons represent 20 percent of many families' income, officials said. The community is largely Hispanic.

Bleepin' parasites!! Why don't these women use birth control if they can't afford to feed their children and are so reliant on begging from the American taxpayers to feed their broods!

I'm so SICK AND TIRED of this!! We just perpetuate the problem by continuing to feed these children!! If these mothers knew they couldn't get any freebies for their broods, then maybe they'd think twice before getting pregnant! But as long as they know there are programs like WIC, the sky's the limit as far as breeding is concerned!

What do these bleepin' Mexican illegals think we are??? An unlimited supply of formula and diapers for their irresponsible and unchecked breeding??? I truly LOATHE these women!! How DARE they presume that they can have as many babies as they want...babies they CANNOT AFFORD TO SUPPORT....and then beg the American people to pay for them??? HOW DARE THEY!!! This pisses me off SO MUCH!!!

I feel NO compassion for them. And as far as I'm concerned, the WIC program, and all other programs like it, should be completely closed off to anybody who is not in this country legally. And that includes anchor babies!!!

Sorry for this rant....but this is one aspect of illegal immigration that really burns me up. I mean, it's bad enough that they come here without our permission, and they steal our social security numbers, and they take our jobs and lower our wages...but to add INSULT TO INJURY, they have baby after baby and then expect us to foot the bill for feeding, clothing, housing and educating them!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do these bleepin' Mexican illegals think we are??? An unlimited supply of formula and diapers for their irresponsible and unchecked breeding??? I truly LOATHE these women!! How DARE they presume that they can have as many babies as they want...babies they CANNOT AFFORD TO SUPPORT....and then beg the American people to pay for them??? HOW DARE THEY!!! This pisses me off SO MUCH!!!

I feel NO compassion for them. And as far as I'm concerned, the WIC program, and all other programs like it, should be completely closed off to anybody who is not in this country legally. And that includes anchor babies!!!

Sorry for this rant....but this is one aspect of illegal immigration that really burns me up. I mean, it's bad enough that they come here without our permission, and they steal our social security numbers, and they take our jobs and lower our wages...but to add INSULT TO INJURY, they have baby after baby and then expect us to foot the bill for feeding, clothing, housing and educating them!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, no apology is necessary. I think no . . strike that I know that you speak for all of us American taxpayers who are sick and tired of being used and abused by a population not wanting compassion, just taxpaying suckers to keep doing the job that Mexico won't do, support them and their archaic beliefs that breeding like wild animals is a religous right and being able to support them is not part of the planning but merely an after thought. In Messyco they get by on scraps or remain hungry, here they don't just expect us to foot the bills they DEMAND that we do so. At what point does this delusional nightmare end?

pixeldoctor wrote:

I wonder how many of our policies would change if Americans could come on a tour of California, especially Los Angeles.

As a native of Southern California I can assure you the entire country would be up in arms if they all could witness, first hand, the California of 1975 and the California of 2007. California has truly been invaded and conquered and our two worthless senators, Boxer and Feinstein, sat on their ever expanding asses and did absolutely nothing.

"Many people didn't want to come [at first] because of their fears of immigration," Rodriguez said.

Many cannot receive unemployment assistance because of a lack of legal documentation, she said. That's why WIC is vital, she said.

Then go back home where you don't have to worry about legal documentation or immigration!!!