Curbside grocery store service comes to SNAP customers
During the pandemic, Safeway shoppers have had the option to order groceries online and pick up them up curbside.
But the same hasn't been true for people using SNAP benefits, the federal food assistance program — until now.
Safeway’s Drive Up and Go service has become popular during the pandemic, as more shoppers have sought to physically distance themselves from others. Spokesperson Sara Osborne said it’s been the company’s goal to make the service available to SNAP customers, but the technology wasn’t available yet to make that happen.
“That requires different types of hardware [to be] able to accept the SNAP card as tender … right now we’re accepting the SNAP cards at just select locations.”
The Rainier Valley store in South Seattle is the first location. More stores will begin offering the service throughout October. Osborne said that by early 2021, the service will be available to all SNAP customers.
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Ruby de Luna
Reporter
Ruby de Luna is a reporter with a focus on food and how it intersects with health, communities, and culture. She has also reported on health care, and immigrant communities.
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