Earlier this week, Pennsylvania received approval from Food and Nutrition Service to join the pilot program that lets SNAP recipients purchase groceries online through participating retailers in early June.

Now that approval has been received, DHS is working with its EBT vendor and approved retailers to implement system changes necessary to implement online payment for PA’s SNAP recipients. These system changes will take approximately two weeks to complete the testing and validation. Implementation could not begin without FNS’ approval. Now that approval has been received, OHS expects to have online grocery purchasing activated for SNAP recipients by the beginning of June. Once active, only eligible food items normally paid for by SNAP will be able to be purchased online with SNAP benefits. Delivery fees, driver tips, and other associated charges may not be paid for with SNAP benefits. Due to the expedited timeframe to implement this initiative does not include the ability to transact Cash Assistance benefits using the EBT card. Therefore, individuals will need to use another method of payment to cover the non-allowable fees such as a pre-paid debit card.

The pilot program currently includes three approved retailers: Amazon, Walmart, and ShopRite. Retailers that are interested in participating must contact FNS to review the requirements to be added to the program. And, just as a reminder, retailers that do not wish to join the pilot program can still offer delivery or pick-up flexibility options for SNAP recipients by using mobile EBT processing equipment that would allow customers to pay with SNAP when groceries are delivered or picked up. Farmers markets may be able to receive this processing equipment at no cost through a grant opportunity provided by DI-IS.

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Animal Care PA is offering help for seniors who do not have money to pay for pet food or veterinary bills.

Henry’s Helping Paws program provides food to the pets of senior citizens so the pets and their owners to stay together. This program was launched in March of 2016 in a partnership with Meals on Wheels in Chester County.

This program is currently in 3 locations:

• Meals on Wheels, Chester County, PA
• Phoenixville Senior Center, Phoenixville, PA
• Coatesville Senior Center, Coatesville, PA

To apply for food for your pet, click here.

“TLC” stands for The Last Chance program, as well as “tender loving care,” because that is what we strive to offer for animals who may not get any care at all without the fund. The Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation (PVF) established our The Last Chance (TLC) program in 2009 to help ensure a source of funding for the care of abused or neglected, owned and unowned companion animals that might otherwise be euthanized or turned over to an animal shelter that is already overburdened.