Press Release  Local Supermarket Join Massachusetts’ EBT SNAP Online Purchasing Program

Boston — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can now use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) SNAP benefits to buy groceries online from participating McKinnon's Supermarkets via the Instacart website and mobile app. McKinnon’s is a family-owned full-service supermarket that has a selection of quality meat, fresh produce and wide variety of groceries. McKinnon’s was started in 1946, with Massachusetts locations in Everett and Danvers.

McKinnon's Supermarket is the eleventh retailer in the Commonwealth to accept EBT SNAP online, joining BJ’s, Daily Table, Stop & Shop, Walmart and Amazon, as well as ALDI, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Price Rite, Stop & Shop and Wegmans via Instacart. Across all eligible retailers, residents have spent over $156 million in SNAP benefits to-date buying groceries online. For more information on the Massachusetts program, visit www.Mass.gov/SNAPOnline.

“SNAP online purchasing is one of several tools the Administration has utilized, alongside the continuation of SNAP Emergency Allotments, to combat food insecurity for Massachusetts individuals and families,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “The addition of more local retailers in the program will help expand safe shopping options for households who utilize SNAP to help buy nutritious and culturally accessible food.”

“SNAP remains an important tool to help fight food insecurity by putting money directly into the hands of more than 600,000 households and supporting our local communities, retailers and their employees,” said Department of Transitional Assistance Acting Commissioner Mary Sheehan. “Expanding approved online retailers promotes equity and safety for our residents receiving SNAP, allowing low-income households access to the same purchasing choices as other shoppers.”

Shoppers must enter their EBT card as the form of payment on their Instacart account and select items from the list of EBT SNAP-eligible products as part of their McKinnon’s order. Similar to using SNAP benefits to purchase food in a store, benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods online, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy and eggs. For more information on using SNAP benefits via Instacart, visit www.instacart.com/ebt-snap.

“We are very excited to be one of the first independent grocers in Massachusetts to offer this shopping option to our local community,” said McKinnon’s Manager Eric Boucher.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with McKinnon’s Supermarkets to introduce EBT SNAP payments for same-day delivery and pickup, giving people greater access to food in Massachusetts,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President of Access to Food & Nutrition at Instacart. “At Instacart, we believe that online grocery should be accessible to everyone – not just a luxury for some. We look forward to increasing affordability and accessibility to nutritious food across Massachusetts in partnership with McKinnon’s, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance."

SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for fees, like delivery fees. Economic assistance received through DTA, which include Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC), cannot be used to purchase items online at this time. The USDA approves all retailers for participation in this program. Interested retailers can visit: www.FNS.USDA.gov/SNAP.

Residents can check their SNAP eligibility and apply online at www.DTAConnect.com or on the DTA Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363 (press 7). SNAP is not considered in a public charge test. If one is not a US citizen or eligible immigrant, it is safe for them to get SNAP for an eligible family member (like a US citizen child). Currently, households are temporarily receiving increased SNAP benefit amounts and it is now easier than ever to apply.

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