NC Resources for SNAP Recipients

If you are currently receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or FNS (Food and Nutrition Services) in North Carolina, you may be eligible for additional resources to ease financial obligations.

Keep in mind, however, that being eligible for SNAP doesn’t guarantee your entry into the following programs.  Programs may be available by geographic location or for a specific age group. And some programs may lack the necessary funds to be accessible to all eligible people.  Even so, you might something for which you are eligible. Wouldn’t that be great for the budget?

Find out if you may be eligible by accessing the links associated with each program below:

Double Bucks: A dollar matching program that allows the farmers market to match your EBT dollar with an additional dollar from the market (up to a certain amount). For example, if you spend $10 in EBT at the market, you’ll be given an additional $10. Now you have a total of $20 to spend at the farmers’ market Contact or visit your county farmers market for program availability.

For a list of county markets, visit: www.ncfarmfresh.com/farmmarkets.asp

Free or Reduced Lunch or Breakfast: Families with school aged children may be eligible for free lunch or a reduction in the normal lunch cost. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households must complete the application, which is available in each school’s principal’s office, and return it to the school or to the School Nutrition Office.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): The NC SFMNP provides eligible lower-income older adults with coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at their local farmers’ markets. The program is designed to improve the nutrition of older adults and increase business for local farmers. Older adults must meet three requirements:

1. 60 years of age or older

2. Live in a participating county

3. Household income of no more than 185% of the current Federal Poverty Level

This program may not be available in all counties. If you are interested in receiving assistance from SFMNP, please contact your local aging services agency to apply.

If the SFMNP is NOT currently available in your county, you can complete the SFMNP interest form. The North Carolina Department of Health (NCDHHS) and Human Services will use this information for program planning.

Visit: www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-adult-services/north-carolina-seniors-farmers-market-nutrition-program.

Or contact NCSFMNP@dhhs.nc.gov for more information.

Congregate Meals for Older Adults: Congregate meals provide a lunch time meal, which offers one third of the recommended daily dietary allowance and is provided in a group setting.

For county’s contact information, visit: www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-adult-services/congregate-and-home-delivered-meals and click on “Congregate Nutrition.”

For more information contact the Division of Aging and Adults Services at 919-855-3400.

Home Delivered Meals for Older Adults: Home-delivered meals offer lunch to homebound older adults which offers one third of the recommended daily dietary allowance.

For county’s contact information, visit: www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-

adult-services/congregate-and-home-delivered-meals and click on “Home-delivered Meals.”

For more information contact the Division of Aging and Adults Services at 919-855-3400.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC):  WIC promotes healthy habits and healthy families by

providing basic nutritious foods to eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children. Eligible foods are rich in protein, iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamins.

For more information or to apply, locate your local WIC office at: www.ncdhhs.gov/localWIC

Visit www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral to complete a referral. Or call: 1-844-601-6881 or text: wic12345 to the listed number.

Feeding America: Food pantries provide food items to households in need. Pantries are often operated through charitable community organizations, such as churches. Each pantry will have different eligibility criteria and rules for how often a person can visit the pantry. You can find pantries that are located near you through the Feeding America website at: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:

Visit: morefood.org

English Toll Free: 1-855-240-1451

Spanish Toll Free: 1-888-382-7105

Photo by Alexander Simonsen on Unsplash