The Saint Louis County Department of Health has signed a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to continue local WIC services through federal fiscal year 2012.

“WIC” is shorthand for the federally-sponsored “Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.”  The program serves nearly half of all infants born in the United States as well as their mothers. Under the terms of the new contract, Saint Louis County will be able to serve up to 9,509 WIC-eligible people every month.

The WIC program provides nutritious supplemental foods and individualized nutrition education and counseling for at-risk pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to five (5) years of age.  Last year in Saint Louis County, the WIC program issued checks for 109,653 packages of food.

After seeing a story on FOX 2, a high profile St.Louisan will make thousands of holiday wishes come true for U.S. troops far from home.

Things looked bad for the <runtime:topic id="PLGEO100101101011267">St. Louis</runtime:topic> County group, A Soldier`s Wish List.  Volunteers had collected thousands of holiday gifts for troops, but needed thousands more dollars to mail them;  not anymore.

"He's the father of these two children," said the group's founder Julieann Najar, from her home office, grabbing a clipboard with photos and information about one of the latest troop wishes from the Soldier's Wish List web site, asoldierswishlist.org.

One step at a time, students at more than 30 schools in Missouri are focusing on the healthy benefits of walking to school.

Oct. 5 is International Walk to School Day, and students across the state have activities planned. October is Walk to School Month.

“We’ve encouraged schools to not only have special activities on Oct. 5 but also throughout the entire month,” said Safe Routes to School Coordinator Jeff Cremer. “Our hope is that a month-long focus on walking to school will encourage parents and communities to establish ongoing walking and cycling programs.”