SNAP Awareness

July 19 - 24 is ONT SNAP Awareness Week! 

SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as "EBT" or "Food Stamps." SNAP puts money for food in people's pockets, that can then be used at local grocery stores and farms to buy food they may not be able to get at ONT. SNAP is a critical resource for ending hunger in our communities. Over 700,000 low-income Massachusetts residents receiving MassHealth are likely SNAP eligible but are not currently enrolled. This is The SNAP Gap.

You can be part of the solution:
1. Become a SNAP Ambassador. You can initiate conversation about SNAP with your network and educate fellow community members about SNAP. By raising awareness, you can tackle applicant reluctance and create social acceptance of people getting the help they need. Don' t have enough info about SNAP? Sign-up for a SNAP Training!  "Understanding the Value of SNAP" will be held on Tuesday, July 20 at 5:30pm via zoom. RSVP to attend or to get the recording sent to you. 
2. Support the Common Application, which would ease the process for individuals and families by allowing them to apply for multiple federal safety net programs at the same time. Senate Bill 761 and House Bill 1290 would create the Common Application. Sign-on to ONT's letter or use this template to send a letter to your state government officials to champion the Common Application.
3. Connect someone with SNAP. ONT makes applying to SNAP easy. Schedule a SNAP appointment online, or call 978-388-1907 x18 to speak with Tress Ricker, ONT Food Resource Advocate. If you or someone you know has questions about qualifying for SNAP or about recertifying for SNAP, Tress is available to help.

Read more about SNAP in Executive Director, Lyndsey Haight's letter to the editor for the Newburyport Daily News here. 

SNAP changes lives. Advocate for SNAP. Promote change.