As we all look for ways to help those affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), there is one very simple thing we can do: Stay home. But even more importantly, stay home and out of grocery stores from today, April 1st, until April 4th. A viral social media movement is reminding people that by waiting for your grocery run, you’re letting the most vulnerable women and children get the food and supplies that they need.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides funding for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to 5 years old who, according to the USDA, “are found to be at nutritional risk” by a medical or health professional. WIC funds are distributed at the beginning of the month. This means that, in the first few days of April, already at-risk women need to be able to get to a store and purchase needed groceries and supplies for themselves and their children.

In this particularly difficult time, we can all help by not stockpiling groceries and staying out of the store so those with WIC funds can safely shop while practicing social distancing.

If you absolutely must (must!) hit the store, leave products marked with “WIC” on the shelves and out of your cart.

You’ll be able to see “WIC” or “WIC approved food” on the shelf tag. Authorized foods include things like baby foods, fruits and vegetables, enriched cereal, eggs, vitamin C-rich juice, whole wheat bread, canned beans, and iron-fortified infant formula, according to the USDA fact sheet. If those marked items are sold out, and if the store doesn’t offer a substitute, those who receive WIC funds will not be able to buy their most crucial items.

Dallas County councilman Adam Medrano posted to Facebook to ask locals to avoid grocery stores in the first few days of April. Dallas magazine followed up with a story detailing why.

But since then, the request has gone national. People are copy-pasting or sharing their own reminders in tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagrams. In their requests, many ask others to “share widely” to dispense the information. Some are calling for an even longer lead time for low-income and at-risk communities to access groceries. Others are reminding people that other communities, including those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also need time and space to shop.

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Please avoid noncritical grocery shopping this week. Low-income families have their WIC/SNAP reloaded today & will be shopping over the next few days.



Please don't buy anything with a WIC tag—this is all they can buy. Now more than ever, we have to respect & care for each other. pic.twitter.com/SksfeEzYfB — Dana Balter for Congress (@dana_balter) April 1, 2020

IMPORTANT: Unless you have a critical need, please avoid grocery shopping April 1-3.



This gives our elders & disabled neighbors (who receive SSI and SSDI on the 1st) and families with WIC/SNAP (also sent on the 1st) a chance to purchase much-needed food.



PLEASE RT today! — Jennifer Hofmann (@inspiredjen) March 31, 2020

y’all try and stay out of the grocery stores today if you’re not on WIC — you gotta let the WIC homies get their supplies today cuz their monthly money just hit — Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 1, 2020

I urge everyone to avoid grocery shopping on April 1-3 unless you have a critical need.



WIC benefits come to low-income families at the first of the month and there will be a surge as these families redeem them. Many are over-extended with children staying home. Show kindness. — Spry Guy (@SpryGuy) March 30, 2020

I urge everyone to avoid grocery shopping on April 1-3 unless you have a critical need.

WIC benefits come to low-income families at the first of the month and there will be a surge as these families redeem them.Give these families space to shop! #WeAreInThisTogether — D A I S Y 👁‍🗨 (@DaizyBone) April 1, 2020

Please share widely:

I urge everyone to avoid grocery shopping on April 1-3 unless you have a critical need.

Many people WIC/SNAP benefits come to low-income families at the first of the month and there will be a surge as these families redeem them.#WeAreInThisTogether #StayHome — Jayne Makes Cents (@JayneMakesCents) March 30, 2020

If it’s not urgent, please hold your grocery run until this weekend so vulnerable women and children can find the food and medical supplies that they need—now more than ever.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, HelloGiggles is committed to providing accurate and helpful coverage to our readers. As such, some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage you to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments, and visit our coronavirus hub.