The St. Louis Farmers Market Association is raising funds to establish a matching dollar program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamp, recipients at farmers markets in St. Louis. The aptly-named SNAP 2 IT! project will increase access to local, healthy, affordable sources of food in St. Louis while boosting economic support for farmers. Let’s take a look at how it operates, who is involved, and the positive impact that awaits.
Participants will go to the market, run their EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card for a chosen amount, and the market will match up to $10 per week. If they run $10 on their card, they receive $20 in SNAP tokens to spend at any market booth on SNAP-eligible items. The farmers are then paid by the market from the SNAP funds.
The Benefits
For food stamp recipients, healthy, local, and sustainable food options are limited: 60 percent of stores that take food stamps are gas stations and convenient stores, while less than 8 percent of those are full-fledged grocery stores. With a matching dollar program like SNAP 2 IT, low income families gain a more nutritious source of food.
The economic empowerment extends beyond customers—new buyers mean new sources of revenue for farmers—and the reach is greater than one might think. Brian DeSmet, Market Master at the Schlafly (Maplewood) Farmers Market, which will be accepting double bucks, estimates that the network of participating markets reaches 75-80 individual farmers. In addition to EarthDance at the Ferguson Farmers Market, the participating farmers markets include: Cherokee St. International Farmers Market, International Institute of St. Louis Global Farms, North City Farmers’ Market, Schlafly Farmers Market, Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, and Webster Groves Farmers Market.
Models of Success: Beans and Greens, Kansas City
Although the Tower Grove Farmers Market has received grants for its own matching dollar program in 2014, nothing like SNAP 2 IT exists in St. Louis yet. The city can look to successful models like Kansas City’s Beans and Greens and see the social and economic impact of a program like SNAP 2 IT. At Beans and Greens’ inception, only two markets were taking SNAP benefits. After a few short years, over $150,000 a year in matching dollars were being raised at more than 15 markets. The program has served over 25,000 food stamp recipients and more than 200 farmers. Learn more about Beans and Greens here.
How You Can Help: The Indiegogo Campaign
SNAP 2 IT is accepting online donations through its Indiegogo crowdfunding page until Friday, August 15th. To date, the campaign has raised three quarters of its $3,000 goal. All money raised will go directly to increasing the buying power of SNAP recipients at each participating market. Enjoy donation perks like a social media shout-out, t-shirt, or tote. Give here!