ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and Midcoast Maine Community Action (MMCA) announce a new partnership that brought a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program office to Rockport last month.

The WIC program, which provides comprehensive nutrition care to thousands of Maine families, has been operating remotely from their office on Mechanic Street in Rockland. Thanks to this new partnership, Pen Bay Hospital has donated space on the hospital campus, allowing MMCA to relocate to a space adjacent to the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology practice.

“This partnership reflects MMCA's long-standing dedication to providing essential resources that support the health and well-being of families in our community," said Claire Berkowitz, president and CEO of MMCA, in a MaineHealth news release. "By expanding our reach through the new in-person Rockport WIC clinic, we are empowering families to access the nutritional support they need to thrive. We are proud to collaborate with MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital to help build a healthier, more sustainable future for children and families.”

MMCA administers the WIC program in Knox County, funded by the US Department of Agriculture. The program serves pregnant and postpartum people (up to 6-12 months), infants and children up to age five. All caregivers of eligible infants and children are encouraged to enroll, including non-birthing parents, grandparents, foster parents and more. Participants receive an EBT card to purchase supplemental food such as fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, yogurt, cereal, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, eggs, canned fish, juice and infant formula.

The WIC program offers additional services, including the provision of hospital-grade breast pumps and a Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program to assist pregnant and postpartum people in achieving their lactation goals. MMCA’s WIC Nutrition Counselors also provide personalized nutrition education, lactation support, and referrals to various family health and well-being programs.

“We are thrilled this next step in our partnership with MMCA is taking place,” said Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, senior director of operations at Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “To have the WIC clinics in Belfast and Rockland now be located on our hospital campuses allows more people to access the resources they need and furthers our vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.”

Renovation of the new WIC space was made possible through philanthropic support. “We are grateful to the Blanket Fort Foundation, whose generosity made this renovation possible,” said Amy McNaughton, director of philanthropic initiatives at MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “Their commitment to supporting families across the midcoast community is truly inspiring and helps create a warm, welcoming environment where parents, infants and young children can access essential care and resources they deserve in one of the most important stages of life.”

The Rockport WIC office is located at 3 Glen Cove Drive, Suite 2. For more information about the WIC program, or to make an appointment, please call (207) 442-7963.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.