WIC App

• 

  Home Screen with Benefits Overview

• 

  Scanner Screen for scanning barcodes and food identification.

• 

  Benefits Screen showing all available benefits for the user

• 

  Scanner Rejected Food and Stated the reason why

• 

  Explore Screen for additional resources

• 

  WC Stores to help users find nearest WC Approved Store

• 

  Notifications Screen for important government announcements (related to the food & health department)

• 

  Purchase Tracking Page, this directly affects remaining balances and needs extreme accuracy.

• 

  Switching Cards Screen for users with access to many eWIC cards.

• 

  Shopping List with clickable approved food buttons to keep users on track while shopping

• 

  A show cashier screen to present all available balances to the cashier at checkout

Inspiration

I was inspired by this project because WIC families face significant barriers when shopping—from language obstacles for Haitian Creole speakers to the confusion of determining which products are covered at checkout. I wanted to create a solution that empowers WIC participants to shop with confidence, eliminates checkout embarrassment, and maximizes their nutritional benefits through technology. I also felt personally touched because I come from a low-income family myself and can relate to some of the problems faced by the target users.

📱 What it does

The WIC App is a bilingual React Native mobile application that significantly improves the WIC shopping experience through:

🔍 Real-time Barcode Scanning: Instantly validates WIC eligibility before checkout. This is achieved by looking up the food barcodes with the USDA API and comparing them to a list of pre-approved foods in my Neon database.

🌐 Bilingual Support: Complete interface in English and Haitian Creole with audio feedback

📊 Benefit Tracking: Visual benefit balance management with before/after purchase calculations

🛒 Smart Shopping Lists: WIC-approved item recommendations and planning tools

🏪 Store Locator: GPS-powered WIC-approved store finder with hours and directions

📚 Educational Resources: Clear explanations of WIC policies and package size requirements

♿ Accessibility: Text-to-speech functionality and intuitive design for all users

🛠️ How I built it

Frontend: React Native with TypeScript for cross-platform mobile development

Navigation: React Navigation with tab-based and stack navigation

State Management: Context API for user auth, language preferences, and WIC card data

Scanning: Expo Camera with barcode detection for UPC/EAN code validation

Audio: Expo Speech for multilingual text-to-speech feedback

Storage: AsyncStorage for offline-first user data and preferences

Backend: Node.js with Express and TypeScript

Deployments: Railway for backend server, Neon for database server

Database: Prisma ORM with PostgreSQL for benefit and transaction management

API: RESTful endpoints for user benefits, product validation, and transaction history

Product Data: Comprehensive WIC Approved Product List (APL) with eligibility rules

Key Features Implemented:

Real-time product scanning with instant approval/rejection feedback

Complete Haitian Creole localization with cultural appropriateness

Offline-capable with AsyncStorage persistence

Custom UI components following WIC branding guidelines

Responsive design optimized for various screen sizes

🚧 Challenges I ran into

Complex WIC Policy Logic: Implementing intricate eligibility rules (package sizes, brand restrictions, monthly limits) required deep understanding of WIC regulations and careful edge case handling.

Barcode Database Accuracy: Building a comprehensive product database with accurate UPC codes, brand information, and real-time eligibility validation while handling edge cases for unknown products.

Offline-First Architecture: Designing seamless functionality without internet connectivity while maintaining data synchronization when connection is restored.

User Experience Complexity: Balancing feature-rich functionality with simplicity for users who may have limited smartphone experience.

🏆 Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Complete Bilingual Experience: Full English/Haitian Creole localization with audio support Comprehensive WIC Logic: Accurate implementation of complex eligibility rules Production-Ready Architecture in Under 24 Hours: Scalable codebase with proper error handling and security

Cultural Sensitivity: Authentic translations and culturally appropriate UX design

📚 What I learned

Accessibility Importance: Designing for diverse user needs (language, technology comfort, disabilities) creates better experiences for everyone.

Offline-First Benefits: Building offline-capable apps improves reliability and user trust, especially for essential services.

Community Impact: Technology can meaningfully address real social challenges when designed with empathy and user research.

🚀 What's next for WIC App

Digital WIC Card: Integration with state EBT systems for seamless checkout

Smart Notifications: Benefit expiration reminders and nearby store promotions

Long-term Vision: Store-Based Food List: The list of approved foods should update depending on the store the user is currently at.

Multi-State Expansion: Support for different state WIC programs and regulations

Health Integration: Connect with healthcare providers for personalized nutrition guidance

Family Features: Multi-participant household management and child-specific recommendations

Analytics Dashboard: Aggregate insights for WIC administrators and policy makers

Community Platform: Peer support network and resource sharing among WIC families

The ultimate goal is to eliminate barriers to proper nutrition and create a more dignified, efficient WIC experience that empowers families to make healthy choices with confidence.

Built With

• copilot
• neon
• postgresql
• railway
• react
• react-native
• typescript
• usda-api