Marne community welcomes new WIC clinic

By Elvia Kelly, Fort Stewart Public AffairsAugust 4, 2011

Marne community welcomes new WIC clinic
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WIC Grand Opening at Stewart
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FORT STEWART, Ga. - The grand opening of the reconstructed, remodeled Women, Infants and Children clinic took place at Fort Stewart during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, July 29.

“My thanks to the leaders from the community who are here,” Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Milton, said at WIC’s grand opening. “You always do right by us here at Fort Stewart. Your participation is proof that our community covenant continues to be strong. This new clinic is yet another tangible asset of your continued support.”

The WIC clinic is a nutrition-based program aimed to provide assistance to women, infants and children. While a WIC facility is available in the city of Hinesville, the WIC clinic on Fort Stewart primarily serves the military community.

"It's good to have a [WIC clinic] on post, so that you have those resources, especially for Soldiers and their Families who live on post," said Leah Poole, executive director of Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, during the groundbreaking ceremony earlier in the year. "Some of them may not have the transportation to the other [WIC clinic], so it's definitely a benefit to everybody."

The previous WIC clinic served Family Members from a modular building. Though WIC continued its services to the Marne community, the building had ongoing issues. It leaked water from the ceiling and the windows, and the air conditioning system did not work properly. The halls were narrow, limiting access for large objects to fit through the hallways like strollers and a desk. On rainy days, the facility seemed to be a constant target for lighting.

"The lights would shut-off and the AC kept going out," said Mary Ruth-Montoya, office manager at Fort Stewart's WIC facility. "We were like a lightning magnet; lightning strikes kept happening. So, we're all so excited about the new facility. It's the best thing that could have happened to me, the staff and the Families."

The Stewart community has had a WIC facility dating back to 1986. During the Col. Milton’s remarks, he stated that the original clinic operated out of an old hospital behind a chapel. It was housed in the old hospital until 1997. In the same year, the facility moved into a 2000-square-foot modular building. Now, the building has been significantly improved from a modular facility to a brick building.

Construction efforts of the new facility include wider halls, stable foundation, spacious offices, larger waiting room and a freshly-paved parking lot. It is also the largest WIC facility of three other facilities in Liberty County.

“I can honestly say that though [WIC staff] may not be Soldiers, they embody the Army Value of Selfless Service,” said Col. Milton. “Not only that, [they also] live the Warrior Ethos by placing their mission first " taking care of Families " and, in doing so, not leaving a comrade behind.”