CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia program that expands the purchases of lower-income families at farmers markets and food retailers has received a cash infusion a few months after running out of funding.
The SNAP Stretch program benefited more than 2,000 families at 42 sites across the state earlier this year before its $150,000 budget was exhausted by August, the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition said.
Recently the program received $100,000 from the state through federal CARES act funds, news outlets reported.
“This program is going to put $100,000 of food directly purchased from West Virginia farmers on the plates of low-income families,” said Food and Farm Coalition executive director Spencer Moss.
The program is an initiative of the coalition, the West Virginia University Extension Service and the West Virginia Farmers Market Association. It allows for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to use electronic cards to double their purchases. Funding for the program typically comes from federal grants and foundations.
