Transforming dollars and diets.
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as “Food Stamps”. As a federal nutrition program, it allows members to stretch their food budget and provide easier access healthy food.
When “Food Stamps” went away in 2002 in promotion of debit card use, farmers markets across the country suddenly fell out of the stamp business. As a result, in-need families lost access to local, healthy, and affordable produce. Today, only a little more than 60% of farmers markets across the country accept SNAP.
Many of the people on SNAP are working to support families, In Spartanburg County alone there are about 43,000 SNAP users. Our city benefits from $61,000,000 a year in SNAP money, with the average benefit breaking down to $1.31 per person/meal.
In 2013 though, direct farm and farmers’ markets sales only accounted for $11,000 of the SNAP spent in Spartanburg. Hub City Roots recognizes the economic and public health need to connect farmers and SNAP users, and we’ve worked relentlessly to expand the use of SNAP at our markets. To promote SNAP use at our markets, we work with the United Way of the Piedmont to provide the “Double-SNAP” program. We also work with the Department of Social Services to provide the “Healthy Bucks” program.
We’re dedicated to increasing a SNAP using family’s food-buying power.
In 2017, our “Double-SNAP” program put $43,000 of healthy food on the tables of low-income families. The $43,000 spent went directly to our vendors and local farmers, supporting our city’s small business industry.
Once signed up for the SNAP program (contact our SNAP outreach coordinator, Jenni Callahan at jcallahan@hubcityfm.org), you become eligible for Hub City Roots SNAP-Matching. This means that for every $1 you spend at the Farmers’ market or Mobile market, you’ll receive an additional $1 (up to $40) plus an additional $15 to spend on fruits and vegetables if you put at least $5 on your EBT card. Take full advantage of the program and you can turn $40 into $95 at the market each week!
Money is in the form of tokens that do not expire.
Jessica Eichman
“The Double-SNAP program at the Market was a blessing that transformed my family’s diet. At a time when we were only receiving $36/week for food from SNAP we were able to buy around 50% of our household’s food at the Market including apples, cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, corn, yellow squash, carrots, green beans, peaches, cucumbers, a loaf of bread, eggs, and sometimes ground pork sausage. Along with the healthy food, at the Hub City Farmers’ Market I found a friendly social atmosphere with kind vendors and, unlike some of my experiences at grocery stores, fellow customers at the Market never treated me differently.”
-
Please check the USDA site for eligibility.
To find out if you’re eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, contact Jenni Callahan (jcallahan@hubcityfm.org), our SNAP Outreach Coordinator. She is also available by appointment or at the Saturday Market.
-
SNAP benefits are given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets and co-op food programs.
-
FreshEBT helps you check the balance on your EBT card without having to call the hotline or save receipts. However, since FreshEBT isn’t part of the government, we can’t help you apply through the app.
Check your EBT balance instantly with FreshEBT.
Conveniently and discreetly check your food stamps and benefits balance at any time with FreshEBT. The app helps users make healthier choices, as well as locate grocery stores and farmers’ markets nearby that participate in the SNAP benefits program. You’ll be able to stay within budget and track EBT transactions month by month.
The app is user friendly and easy to download!
Check your food stamps balance
Find stores that accept EBT
Keep track of your spending
