It’s a SNAP!
You may already know that the UM Food Pantry provides free food and hygiene products to students, but did you know that we provide SNAP outreach and application assistance too?
Let’s start with what SNAP is. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, you may have heard it referred to as “food stamps” (we don’t use this term anymore because of the stigma and stereotypes that come with it), or “EBT”. SNAP is a government funded assistance program meant to provide a food budget, or help with a food budget, so that families can move towards being self-sufficient.
SNAP is an amazing resource for a lot of different reasons:
· Getting help to afford food can make navigating a complicated life situation easier and less stressful
· It works just like a debit card, so you can shop at all your normal favorite grocery stores
· It allows individuals and families to purchase nutritious food that might otherwise be out of their budget
· Some farmers market locations allow you to stretch (or even double!) your SNAP dollars over the summer. More info at doubledollarsmt.com.
To qualify for SNAP, families or individuals must meet a Net Monthly Income requirement. Households of one must have a net income of $1012 to qualify, as household size increases so does the net income qualification. Because of regulations passed in 1980, college students must meet a separate set of qualifications in order to receive SNAP.
Student criteria for qualifying for SNAP:
· Work an average of 20 hours per week
· Be awarded Federal Work Study
· Have a child under 5
· Be a single parent to a child under 12 and lack child care
If you know you meet one of the above criteria and you’re interested in applying for SNAP stop by the UM Food Pantry, schedule an appointment to get help applying with me at kat.cowley@mso.umt.edu, or head on over to apply.mt.gov to get started with your application at home!
Students who receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT cards on campus at the Corner Store and the UC Market.
