As a potential loss of SNAP benefits looms, grocers are rolling out new initiatives, including food donations, coupons and discounts, to help combat food insecurity.
Over 40 million people will currently not receive their SNAP benefits in November because the USDA has said it won’t fund the program due to the ongoing government shutdown. Over two dozen states are suing the Trump administration, demanding that the nutrition program continue to receive funding while the political impasse continues.
While grocers often donate food and money to food banks and community organizations, several grocers announced new donation efforts in the last few days to help SNAP consumers. Hy-Vee unveiled $125,000 in donations — $100,000 for Feeding America partner food banks in the region the grocer serves and $25,000 for DoorDash’s initiative to waive delivery and service fees.
H-E-B said it is making a $5 million donation to food banks in the Feeding Texas network and also giving $1 million to Meals on Wheels programs throughout the state. The grocer also said it will serve over 340,000 meals across Texas and Mexico through its annual series of festive holiday gatherings in November and December.
Starting Nov. 10, eight grocery stores in West Virginia will provide free meals, WSAZ reported. Owner Jamason Sparks told the news outlet that on weekdays, people can access a pre-made dinner bag — one for each member of their family — and that on weekends, they can pick up bags containing meal ingredients along with snacks and drinks.
On the e-commerce front, food delivery company Gopuff said it plans to donate up to $10 million worth of food to SNAP recipients. The convenience e-tailer is allowing users who have a SNAP EBT card saved to their account to receive $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery between Nov. 1-15. Gopuff will run the same deal again from Nov. 16-30.
DoorDash said it is delivering 1 million meals for free in November and donating food from its DashMart stores to food banks. For each person who has a SNAP EBT linked to their account, DoorDash will waive delivery and service fees for one order from Sprouts Farmers Market, Schnuck Markets, Dollar General, all five of Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. banners, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle and Wegmans during November.
Grocery and labor trade groups are pressuring federal lawmakers to address the funding issues for SNAP. The National Grocers Association and FMI — The Food Industry Association have separately urged Congress to reopen the government and ensure continued funding for SNAP.
On Monday, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.2 million workers across the grocery, retail, meatpacking and food processing industries, sent a letter to the USDA urging the agency to use contingency funding and funding for other USDA nutrition programs to avoid SNAP participants losing their benefits.
