To concerned citizens of Enumclaw: Please act if you care about the pregnant women and small children in this town.

The WIC clinic will close in Enumclaw if we do not act.

The King County Budget came out Sept. 22; this does not include the Auburn Public Health clinic and without this there is no satellite clinic here in Enumclaw.

For the past 20+ years every Tuesday there has been a WIC clinic in town, serving 350 or more families every month.

The WIC program provides education and support to pregnant women and children under 5 years old. It provides about $40 worth of vouchers each month for specific healthy food (including fresh fruit and vegetables). This boosts the local economy and helps families.

Almost 50 percent of babies born in Enumclaw are on WIC. Families earning less than $3,500 per month for a family of four qualify.

If our clinic closes the next closest clinic in King County is on the east hill of Kent.

The Enumclaw City Council, with Mayor Liz’s leadership, has been very supportive. They passed a resolution voicing their opposition to the cuts.

Now we all need to put pressure on the King County Council.

Please call Regan Dunn at 206-477-1009 and Pete Von Reichbauer at 206-477-1007. Voice your concern. It takes less than 5 minutes. I had never called before, but it was actually very simple, just call and leave a message saying why you think the clinic should stay.

We need to stand together here in south King county to keep the few services we have. Support the women and children of our community.

Any questions, call Helen at 360-367-0947 (nurse at the Enumclaw WIC clinic 2005-11).

Helen Countryman

Enumclaw