An innovative new program is being piloted to help elderly adults and people with disabilities access nutrition more easily and efficiently. For the more than 4 million SNAP participants (SNAP in Wisconsin is referred to as FoodShare and many people know it as FoodStamps), the USDA’s new service is being introduced fill a need for homebound individuals to receive food purchasing and delivery. The impact of the pilot program is expected to reach far beyond those currently participating in SNAP as there are roughly 5 million older adults in the U.S. who have identified a need for grocery delivery.
The food purchasing and delivery firms that were chosen to be part of the one-year pilot are located in various areas throughout the country in an effort to create access for a wide range of interested parties. Firms that will be included in the pilot: Denver Food Rescue (Denver, Colo.), Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (Las Vegas, N.V.), Many Infinities, Inc. (Alabaster, Ala.), Senior Services of Alexandria (Alexandria, Va.), and Store to Door (Roseville, Minn.).
This is uncharted territory for the USDA. This marks the first time that governmental and nonprofit food purchasing and delivery services can accept SNAP benefits as payment. In a statement by the USDA, “Given that nearly one in five SNAP participants is either elderly or a person with disabilities, it’s clear that we must address the special challenges faced by these groups.”
Do you have questions about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs in your area? Find out more about food assistance programs.
Related:
More info about the USDA Pilot Project
Petitions the USDA to Bring Food Stamps Online
Share this Post