Effective October 1, 2015, Gateway Community Action Partnership assumes sponsorship of the Atlantic County’s Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program with expanded hours and new facilities to better serve county residents.
   Gateway, with more than two decades of experience administering the WIC program in South Jersey, was selected by the New Jersey Department of Health’s Division of Family Health Services to replace the Atlantic City Health and Human Services Department.
   Atlantic City officials relinquished operation of the countywide WIC program as part of an effort to increase efficiencies and balance the City’s 2016 budget. City officials said the move will save city’s taxpayers thousands of dollars, while continuing to provide this necessary and important program to all Atlantic County residents.
    "First and foremost, my concern is that our residents receive the best possible care, especially our young mothers and children,” said Atlantic City Mayor Donald A. Guardian. “I have the utmost confidence in Gateway's experience and passion for taking care of people who need it the most. I know Gateway will make a positive difference for our Atlantic City residents, and I look forward to partnering with them for many years to come."
    Gateway Community Action Partnership currently serves approximately 22,000 WIC clients in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties. As part of the move into Atlantic County, the number of WIC offices will increase from three to four, with a new office in Galloway Township. Gateway is also planning the opening of a fifth county WIC office in 2016 as well as instituting evening hours in early 2016 to accommodate working parents.
   Gateway WIC services will be available at the following Atlantic County locations:
Main Office: Atlantic City
1325 Baltic Avenue         
Atlantic City, NJ 08401       
609-347-5656 
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.     

Pleasantville Office
927 N. Main St.
Unit C-1
Heritage Square
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
609-272-0854
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.     

Egg Harbor City Office
300 Philadelphia Ave., Suite B
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
609-965-0197
Hours: Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.     

Galloway Office
333 Jimmie Leeds Rd., Unit 5
Galloway, NJ 08205
Hours: TBD     

   “We are very proud of the services we provide and are excited by the opportunity to expand into Atlantic County and to provide services to a greater number of participants,” said Albert B. Kelly, President and CEO of Gateway Community Action Partnership. “Gateway looks forward to providing quality WIC services in Atlantic County because we fully understand the program’s value to families.”
   Gateway is a Bridgeton-based non-profit organization and is the state-designated, federally-recognized Community Action Partnership for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.
   Dr. Jaya Velpuri, Ph.D., Gateway’s Vice President/WIC Director, said the agency is pleased to extend services into Atlantic County and to assist mothers and children in a real and meaningful way. 
   “We are here to strengthen families’ health with WIC services and Breastfeeding Support and are excited by this opportunity to expand. We are hoping to assist mothers and their children attain optimum health and reach their full potential,” Velpuri said. “We will continue to support the program and collaborate with other community partners to ensure families’ needs are met in a holistic manner. We will use our existing program infrastructure and commitment to quality program services and sensitivity to client satisfaction.”
   WIC serves moderate income pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women and infants and children up to five years old. Under the program, free supplemental foods, through monthly checks, are distributed to buy formula, low-fat milk or soy substitutes, juice, whole grain cereals and other healthy foods. It also provides nutritional counseling and gives referrals to other assistance programs.
   Gateway WIC will have a staff of 17 in Atlantic County and expects to serve nearly 6,000 county participants. Employees of the Atlantic City WIC program were encouraged to apply for jobs with the new sponsor, and several have already been hired by Gateway Community Action Partnership during a transitional period.