Maternal and Family Health Services announced that the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program has increased income guidelines, which will allow more families to participate in the free nutrition education program.

According to the new income guidelines for WIC, a family of four could earn $57,720 annually and qualify for WIC. For a family of three, the income limit is $47,767 to qualify, and a family of two can earn up to $37,814 and qualify for nutrition assistance.

WIC provides participants with supplemental healthy foods, which contain vital nutrients essential for healthy development during critical growth periods, such as pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.

The WIC Nutrition Program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture and provides nutrition education and access to healthy foods for pregnant, postpartum and breast-feeding women, as well as infants and children under the age of 5.

To qualify, participants must meet the income guidelines, have a nutritional or medical need, and live in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the eWIC card that can be used to purchase nutritious foods, WIC participants receive nutrition education, breast-feeding support, immunization record checks, iron deficiency screening, farmers market vouchers and referrals for other health and social services.

For more information or to apply for WIC, visit www.mfhs.org, or call 1-800-367-6347.