Health & Fitness
SNAP Recipients To Get Food Delivered; Coronavirus Cases Drop
For the first time, more than 740,000 Virginians receiving federal food assistance won't have to venture out to grocery store for food.
RICHMOND, VA — For the first time, more than 740,000 Virginians receiving federal food assistance won't have to venture out to grocery stores to pick up the ingredients for dinner.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced during a news conference Friday that those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be able to pay for their groceries online and have them delivered.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week that 13 states, including Virginia, will be able to purchase food online with their SNAP benefits starting Friday, May 29, through the Amazon and Walmart online platforms.
Find out what's happening in Across Virginiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The 13 states are Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.
Once fully operational, online purchasing will be available in 36 states and the District of Columbia, home to more than 90 percent of SNAP participants, Perdue said.
Find out what's happening in Across Virginiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In addition to offering home delivery of groceries, Perdue announced that more independently owned and operated retail stores will be able to accept SNAP benefits online.
“We are expanding new flexibilities and innovative programs to make sure Americans across this country have safe and nutritious food during this national emergency,” Perdue said. “Enabling people to purchase foods online will go a long way in helping Americans follow CDC social distancing guidelines and help slow the spread of the coronavirus. USDA is mandated with the noble goal of feeding Americans when they need it most, and we are fulfilling that mission with new innovative programs during this national emergency.”
As part of its response to the coronavirus, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service worked closely with states, retailers and benefit processors to establish an expansion of the SNAP online purchasing pilot online grocery program, first launched in New York in April 2019.
Currently, the SNAP online purchasing pilot is operational in 18 states and the District of Columbia, with additional states going live each week. For the latest list of states and retailers accepting online SNAP purchases, visit the online purchasing website.
“This continued public health emergency has made access to healthy, affordable food challenging, particularly for Virginians who live in food deserts, have disabilities or face transportation barriers,” said Northam. “Allowing Virginia families who receive SNAP benefits to purchase groceries online and have them safely delivered to their homes will give vulnerable populations additional flexibility to put food on the table without putting themselves at unnecessary risk.”
Online transactions will use SNAP customers’ secure Personal Identification Numbers (PINs). SNAP benefits, however, cannot be used to pay for fees of any type, such as delivery, service or convenience fees.
“With so many Americans already opting to stay safe at home by ordering their groceries online, it’s only right that we make every effort to ensure our most vulnerable families are also able to take advantage of these services,” said United States Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Virginia) in a news release. “After having pushed USDA to approve Virginia’s participation in the SNAP online purchasing pilot program, I’m glad to know that many more families in the Commonwealth will soon be able to access nutritious food without requiring them to leave their homes.”
“I’m grateful that following our request, the USDA has approved Virginia’s inclusion in the SNAP online purchasing pilot program,” added U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia. “Especially at this time of great food insecurity, it’s critical that Virginians have the resources they need to safely access food.”
The Virginia Department of Social Services administers SNAP in the Commonwealth.
“Agencies and leaders across the Commonwealth are constantly collaborating on innovative ways to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities during this pandemic,” said VDSS Commissioner S. Duke Storen. “Addressing the adaptive needs of Virginians right now, particularly expanding access to food, remains at the forefront of everything we are doing.”
Coronavirus Update
As of Saturday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 34,749 cases of the coronavirus, including 4,181 hospitalized.
According to the VDH, 1,159 people have now lost their lives to the virus.
Courtesy VDH
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