Piloting Online Food Purchasing in a SNAP

by Dawn Kepler, Project Administrator By early 2018, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants will be able to make purchases online using their food assistance benefits in the following states: Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Amazon and Wal-Mart are two of the ten online retailers that have been selected by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to participate … Continue reading Piloting Online Food Purchasing in a SNAP

Slices of bread and $2 bills.

Bridge Card “Lost Benefit” Information

by Lyndsy Gamet, MiCAFE Stakeholder and Network Partners Manager Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that it owes some Bridge Card recipients additional benefits that date back to 2014. They refer to the amount as a “lost benefit.” This was an error related to the Heat and Utility Standard Allowance changes. This Allowance was removed for many recipients, and for some it was … Continue reading Bridge Card “Lost Benefit” Information

Dinner plate with pasta, meat, and vegetables.

Putting Food on the Table for the Holidays

By Nicholas Goodman, MiCAFE Network Specialist For many, holidays in December bring joy and excitement. For those living on a fixed income, the social expectations for providing meals at family gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming. Here are some resources to make this time of year less anxiety-inducing: Feeding America has a network of food banks in the southern lower peninsula. You can search by … Continue reading Putting Food on the Table for the Holidays

Woman smiling in the produce aisle.

ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

When it comes to eating a healthy diet, millions of Americans 65 and over face a double whammy: a fixed income, and rising food costs. Nationally, adults aged 65+ have an average annual income of $46,627, and they spend more than $5,500—or nearly 12%—on food. Additionally, this year those who rely on Social Security received just a 0.3% increase in their Cost of Living Adjustment. … Continue reading ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

Large pile of carrots, tomatoes, and other produce.

SNAP Facts!

by Lyndsy Gamet, MiCAFE Outreach and Training Coordinator Let’s talk about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Are you one of approximately 142,000 Michigan Seniors who participate in the program? If not, let me give you a few facts about it, and how to find out if you are eligible. 1) The SNAP program was designed to help individuals to obtain an adequate diet, while meeting … Continue reading SNAP Facts!

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day : Let’s look at senior hunger in America and how you can help.

by Lindsay Felsing, LLMSW, Director of Economic Security One in six seniors in America face hunger every day. Food insecurity among seniors continues to grow: rates of senior hunger increased by nearly 6% from 2011-2013. In 2014, 7 million seniors relied on local food banks to put food on the table. One-third of seniors facing hunger have a disability and nearly one in five live … Continue reading Today is National Hunger Awareness Day : Let’s look at senior hunger in America and how you can help.