FOOD THROUGH TWO MAJOR
RETAILERS.
WMUR’S MIKE CRONIN HAS MORE.
MIKE: MELISSA SILVESTRI DOESN’T
HAVE MUCH FREE TIME THESE DAYS.
>> I WORK FULL-TIME AND I GO TO
SCHOOL
I HAVE THREE KIDS.
MY YOUNGEST IS SPECIAL NEEDS AND
CANNOT WEAR A MASK.
MIKE: TO LIMIT TRIPS TO THE
GROCERY STORE, SHE SHOPS FOR
FOOD ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS.
BUT NOW, THANKS TO A NEW PILOT
PROGRAM THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS
JOINING, SILVESTRI CAN USE HER
SNAP BENEFITS TO ORDER FOOD
ONLINE.
>> I’M JUST SO HAPPY THAT THEY
EVEN IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING LIKE
THIS AND THAT EVERYBODY JUMPED
ON BOARD.
MIKE: ACCORDING TO THE STATE,
THERE ARE 37,000 HOUSEHOLDS THAT
RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS.
THOSE PEOPLE CAN NOW USE THEIR
EBT CARDS TO BUY ELIGIBLE FOOD
ITEMS THROUGH AMAZON AND
WALMAR
>> PEOPLE WITH TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGES, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS,
MOMS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AT HO
AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO GET TO
THE GROCERY STORE, THIS REALLY
OPENS UP LOTS OF AVENUES
MIKE: IT’S VERY SIMPLE PROCES
AT THE ONLINE CHECKOUT SCREEN,
YOU ENTER YOUR NAME AND EBT CARD
NUMBER.
YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO PICK UP
GROCERIES IN STORE OR HAVE THEM
DELIVERE
BUT THE SNAP BENEFITS CAN ONLY
BE USED ON FOO
IT DOESN’T COVER SERVICE OR
DELIVERY CHARGES
>> IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
REALLY HELPS OPEN UP THE DOOR
FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR PEOPLE
AND GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO DO
IT FROM HOME.
MIKE: AND FOR SILVESTRI, THAT’S
ONE LESS WORRY IN HER BUSY LIF
>> JUST TO MAKE THIS EASIER FOR
THE PARENTS IS AN AMAZING THING.
MIKE: THE STATE SAYS THIS
PROGRAM WILL LAST THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC AND HOPEFULLY B
