FOOD SHED CO-OP NOW ACCEPTING EBT AND MATCHING LINK
July 08, 2024
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PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Food Shed Co-op
info@foodshed.coop
815-687-8480
Peter Waldmann
General Manager
303-875-8515
peter@foodshed.coop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOOD SHED CO-OP NOW ACCEPTING EBT AND MATCHING LINK
June 28, 2024,
Woodstock, IL — Food Shed Co-op is pleased to announce that they are now able to facilitate
customer purchases using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). Their goal is to make fresh, local and organic foods available to
all. SNAP, formerly known as “Food Stamps,” helps low-income people and families buy the
food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on the Illinois Link Card, an electronic
card that is accepted at most grocery stores.
Food Shed Co-op will also offer LINK Match. LINK Match is a program that matches the value of
LINK purchases at the Woodstock store, allowing participants to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
For every $10 spent in LINK, participants receive an additional $10 in LINK Match. LINK Match
vouchers can be used like cash, but can only be used to purchase fruits and vegetables.
One of the most frequently asked questions of the co-op online and by phone in recent months
has been if they accept EBT SNAP. Food Shed Co-op began the process to qualify for this
program well before the store opened to the public on May 15, 2024. The application takes
some time to complete, and the co-op is thrilled to be able to tell curious customers a
resounding, “yes!” when asked, now.
The food access program is managed by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United
States Department of Agriculture. The Department of Human Services administers the program
in Illinois. Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, supports these food access programs. He said, "Every
resident in Illinois deserves equitable access to healthy food options." The Illinois government
website provides detailed information. Visit the sites below to learn more.
A list of eligible food items that can be purchased using SNAP benefits is available here:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items.
Illinois residents can use the SNAP eligibility calculator to determine if they are eligible for SNAP
benefits.
IDHS has an additional resource page for SNAP benefit amounts and eligibility limits that can be
viewed here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Brochures/124.pdf
Additionally, Illinois recently announced Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), designed to
reduce childhood hunger by providing families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their
students during the summer months when the students are not receiving meals at school.
Food Shed Co-op is a community-owned and controlled grocery store open to the public. They
prioritize local suppliers whenever possible. It is a place for community members to gather, shop
and nourish their families. The co-op is committed to offering shoppers access to affordable
quality foods and to educating people about the foods they eat. The store will have a full breadth
of departments with Produce being their signature category. Their mission is to offer the best
quality, conventional, local and organic produce and grocery items available in the marketplace.
When open, the store will offer approximately 5,000 different items.
You can support the Food Shed Co-op by signing up now to become an owner at
https://www.foodshed.coop/become-an-owner!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Food Shed Co-op
info@foodshed.coop
815-687-8480
Peter Waldmann
General Manager
303-875-8515
peter@foodshed.coop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOOD SHED CO-OP NOW ACCEPTING EBT AND MATCHING LINK
June 28, 2024,
Woodstock, IL — Food Shed Co-op is pleased to announce that they are now able to facilitate
customer purchases using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). Their goal is to make fresh, local and organic foods available to
all. SNAP, formerly known as “Food Stamps,” helps low-income people and families buy the
food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on the Illinois Link Card, an electronic
card that is accepted at most grocery stores.
Food Shed Co-op will also offer LINK Match. LINK Match is a program that matches the value of
LINK purchases at the Woodstock store, allowing participants to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
For every $10 spent in LINK, participants receive an additional $10 in LINK Match. LINK Match
vouchers can be used like cash, but can only be used to purchase fruits and vegetables.
One of the most frequently asked questions of the co-op online and by phone in recent months
has been if they accept EBT SNAP. Food Shed Co-op began the process to qualify for this
program well before the store opened to the public on May 15, 2024. The application takes
some time to complete, and the co-op is thrilled to be able to tell curious customers a
resounding, “yes!” when asked, now.
The food access program is managed by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United
States Department of Agriculture. The Department of Human Services administers the program
in Illinois. Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, supports these food access programs. He said, "Every
resident in Illinois deserves equitable access to healthy food options." The Illinois government
website provides detailed information. Visit the sites below to learn more.
A list of eligible food items that can be purchased using SNAP benefits is available here:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items.
Illinois residents can use the SNAP eligibility calculator to determine if they are eligible for SNAP
benefits.
IDHS has an additional resource page for SNAP benefit amounts and eligibility limits that can be
viewed here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Brochures/124.pdf
Additionally, Illinois recently announced Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), designed to
reduce childhood hunger by providing families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their
students during the summer months when the students are not receiving meals at school.
Food Shed Co-op is a community-owned and controlled grocery store open to the public. They
prioritize local suppliers whenever possible. It is a place for community members to gather, shop
and nourish their families. The co-op is committed to offering shoppers access to affordable
quality foods and to educating people about the foods they eat. The store will have a full breadth
of departments with Produce being their signature category. Their mission is to offer the best
quality, conventional, local and organic produce and grocery items available in the marketplace.
When open, the store will offer approximately 5,000 different items.
You can support the Food Shed Co-op by signing up now to become an owner at
https://www.foodshed.coop/become-an-owner!
###
Contact:
Susan Jensen , Community Outreach Director
susan@foodshed.coop, 815-338-3708
